By Nana Kobea Bonso
After weeks of electrifying face-offs, the highly anticipated National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) final is set for October 30, 2024, with Keta SHTS (Ketasco), Mfantsipim School (Botwe), and St. Augustine’s College (Augusco) vying for supremacy.
This year’s final, however, carries a unique twist: for the first time since 2015, none of last year’s finalists are returning to defend or reclaim glory. It seems fresh faces have begun to decode the NSMQ formula, challenging the long-standing frontrunners with innovative strategies and rigorous preparations.
The Formula for NSMQ Success: Strategic Excellence
A closer look at NSMQ history reveals that strategic planning and continuous investment in training have often set certain schools apart. Take Adisadel College (Adisco), for example.
Once confined to the quarterfinals in the 1990s and 2000s, Adisco stunned fans with an unparalleled run from 2015 to 2018, achieving four consecutive final appearances—though they captured only one trophy.
They returned twice more in subsequent years (2020 and 2022), notching an impressive six final appearances within eight years. This trajectory illustrates how a clear, focused strategy can elevate a school to the NSMQ elite.
Similarly, Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (Presec-Legon), a powerhouse in the 1990s and 2000s, boasted five wins from six finals appearances between 1995 and 2009. However, when the NSMQ’s new format was introduced in 2013, Presec stumbled, taking until 2019 to find their footing again.
In the past five years, though, they’ve made an astonishing five consecutive final appearances, clinching three championships. This year’s narrow semi-final defeat, courtesy of a tiebreaker, is a testament to their ongoing mastery and a reminder that they’ll likely return as formidable contenders in 2025.
Can History Be Rewritten?
Each finalist this year has a distinct history with the NSMQ. Ketasco is the freshest finalist of the group, having last reached the final in 2021. Their momentum and dedication suggest they could be primed for a new breakthrough.
St. Augustine’s College last graced the finals in 2019, where they claimed their second trophy, adding to their 2007 victory. Mfantsipim School, a perennial contender, has not reached the final since 2014, a memorable year when they lifted the trophy.
While Augusco boasts an impressive 100% success rate with two wins in two finals appearances, Botwe has won twice in three finals appearances (1999, 2000 and 2014). With this track record, Augusco and Botwe bring a storied reputation to the stage, while Ketasco’s determination adds an element of suspense. Will Augusco’s unbroken streak hold, or can Ketasco make their second final appearance a victorious one?
Fans across Ghana are on edge, awaiting a finale that promises to blend history, strategy, and fierce intellectual competition.
Nana Kobea Bonso,
Plot 335 Block C, Nanton Kpawumo, Tamale.
[email protected] or [email protected]
About writer: Writer is a lecturer at the School of Engineering, University for Development Studies and an enthusiast of the NSMQ competition in Ghana.
