Girls’ Schools and the Road to NSMQ Victory: Insights from the Review Show

The NSMQ Review Show, hosted by Dr (Pharm.) Stephen Nimo on the fourth day of the Preliminary Stage of the National Championship, delved into the prospects of girls’ schools winning the National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ) and the challenges that continue to stand in their way.

The show featured Mr. Daniel Tawiah, Coordinator for St. Mary’s SHS, Accra, and Mr. Kofi Owusu Boahen, a 2023 past contestant for Okuapemman School. Together, they shared experiences and insights on the factors shaping the competition’s dynamics, especially for female institutions.

Mr. Tawiah admitted the unique hurdles that come with being a Coordinator for a girls’ school.

“Being a coordinator in a girls’ school has its disadvantages. As a male teacher, I get the opportunity to handle the best students, and I take that alone as a privilege. But it’s also challenging because some male teachers are not allowed to live on campus,” he said.

Despite these challenges, he expressed optimism that the narrative surrounding girls’ schools in the NSMQ will soon change. Speaking on broader regional performance, Kofi Owusu Boahen highlighted the sense of unity and commitment driving schools in the Eastern Region.

“We in the Eastern Region are like a family. When we get a contest, we make sure that we are winning. The Eastern Region has the highest number of seeded schools, and I think they are doing something right,” he shared.

Mr. Tawiah also touched on one of the pressing issues affecting the progress of girls’ schools in the competition, the lack of continuity and mentorship.

“The boys’ schools are always supportive; past contestants often return to mentor and guide the current team. That’s not mostly done in the girls’ schools. They go and don’t come back to support their teams,” he explained.

He therefore made a passionate call for past female contestants to return and lend their experience to current teams.

“We need past contestants from girls’ schools to come back and support their teams,” he appealed.

Commenting on St. Mary’s SHS’s qualification with 52 points, Mr. Tawiah described the NSMQ as a fierce academic contest.

“The NSMQ is like the Champions League; you can’t underestimate any school. Our goal this year is to secure a seed, and I assure you we will come back stronger,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kofi Owusu Boahen expressed optimism about Okuapemman School’s chances in the competition.

“We can get to the finals, and I’m hoping that, by God’s grace, we can use some strategies to get there because the boys are good,” he said.

The discussion highlighted the determination and evolving strategies of schools in this year’s NSMQ as they aim to surpass past performances and chase national glory.

The National Science & Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and proudly sponsored by the Ghana Education Service, in partnership with GOIL PLC, and supported by MoMo from MTN, Joy News, Pepsodent, Prudential life Insurance, Jupay Money Transfer, Trustur AI, Adansi Travels, RwandAir, Kivo Gari, SpinCITI Laundromat, Coronation Insurance, Secure Sanitary Pad, Accra College of Medicine, Academic City University, Bel Beverages, Flora Tissues, Imago from Hashcom, GTP, and YFM.