NSMQ 2026: Holy Child School, Frafraha, St. Monica’s and St John’s Grammar Set for One-eighth Stage After Thrilling Contests!

SMS Auditorium- August 23, 2026

The Preliminary Stage of the 2026 National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ) National Championship delivered another day of high drama, stunning comebacks and nerve-racking finishes.

From Holy Child School surviving a relentless Anlo Senior High School challenge to St. Monica’s Senior High School edging Amenfiman SHS by just three points, the contests delivered drama until the final moments.

Frafraha Community Senior High School also held off a late Awudome Senior High School surge, while St. John’s Grammar School stormed to a commanding 60-point victory. The four schools ultimately earned their One-eighth Stage tickets after absorbing the pressure and delivering when it mattered most.

Holy Child survives Anlo SHS scare

Returning to the National Championship after missing last year’s competition, Holy Child School had to withstand a determined challenge from Anlo SHS and debutants Nkawkaw SHS.

The opening round immediately showed how determined each school was. Holy Child took a narrow lead with 25 points, just one point ahead of Anlo’s 24, while Nkawkaw started strongly with 21 points.

Holy Child created some breathing room in the Trustur AI Speed Race, reaching 35 points. But Anlo SHS and Nkawkaw SHS moved to 26 and 20 points respectively.

 Round Three gave a wave of exictement as both Holy Child and Anlo SHS proved their strength by scoring 10 out of 10. The perfect performances earned both schools the GH¢2,000 Prudential Life NSMQ Star Award. Holy Child School reached 45 points, Anlo SHS to 36, while Nkawkaw SHS added five points to reach 25.

In the JuPay Money Transfer True or False Round, Anlo answered every question correctly, moving to 52 points and winning the GH¢500 Clean Sheet Prize. Holy Child, however, remained ahead with 58, while Nkawkaw SHS reached 32.

With only six points separating them, the final round carried real suspense. Holy Child eventually settled the contest in the GOIL Riddle Bonanza, answering three riddles correctly to reach 67 points and claim the GH¢800 award.

The impressive performance also earned Holy Child School the Pepsodent Highest Scorer of the Day Award worth GH¢1,000. Anlo's brave challenge ended on 52 points, while debutants Nkawkaw SHS finished on 35 points.

 Frafraha Community SHS holds off Awudome challenge

Frafraha Community SHS maintained control of its contest against Awudome SHS and Ejisuman SHS, but Awudome's spirited fight ensured the victory was far from routine.

Frafraha Community SHS began with 17 points in Round One, narrowly ahead of Awudome SHS’s 15, while Ejisuman SHS had eight.

The gap widened dramatically in the Trustur AI Speed Race as Frafraha Community SHS soared to 30 points. Awudome SHS struggled to keep pace, moving to 14, while Ejisuman SHS managed just one point.

Awudome SHS found some momentum in the Prudential Life Insurance Problem of the Day, adding seven points to reach 21. Frafraha Community SHS added four to move to 34, while Ejisuman gained five to reach six points.

The battle tightened again in the JuPay Money Transfer True or False Round. Frafraha Community SHS reached 38 points, but Awudome mounted a strong response to climb to 31. Ejisuman SHS moved to seven points. That left Frafraha Community SHS only seven points clear going into the final round.

In the GOIL Riddle Bonanza, Frafraha Community SHS answered two riddles correctly to finish with 44 points. Awudome answered one to end with 34, while Ejisuman also answered one and exited the competition with 10 points.

St Monica’s SHS edges Amenfiman SHS in nail-biting finish

Few contests matched the tension of the battle between St. Monica’s SHS, Amenfiman SHS and Tema Methodist SHS. St. Monica’s opened with 17 points, just two ahead of Amenfiman’s 15, while Tema Methodist had eight.

The lead remained narrow after the Trustur AI Speed Race, with St. Monica’s SHS on 21, Amenfiman SHS on 16 and Tema Methodist still on eight. St. Monica’s added six points in the Prudential Life Insurance Problem of the Day to reach 27. Amenfiman gained two to move to 18, while Tema Methodist failed to add a point.

The contest intensified in Round four. St. Monica’s surged to 40, but Amenfiman SHS refused to give up, climbing to 31. Tema Methodist reached 15. With nine points between the two leaders, the GOIL Riddle Bonanza offered Amenfiman SHS one final opportunity to stage a comeback.

But the scores remained unchanged. St. Monica’s held on to 40 points to claim victory by just three points, while Amenfiman SHS and Tema Methodist SHS ended with 37 and 15 points respectively.

First Contest	Second Contest	Third Contest
Holy Child School: 67 points	Fafraha Community SHS: 44 points	St. Monica’s SHS: 40 points
Anlo SHS: 52 points	Awudome SHS: 34 points	Amenfiman SHS: 37 points
Nkawkaw SHS: 35 points	Ejisuman SHS: 10 points	Tema Methodist SHS: 15 points

The 2026 edition of the National Science & Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and proudly sponsored by the Ghana Education Service (GES), with support from GOIL PLC, Joy News, Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, Pepsodent, Cowbell, Trustur AI, Jupay Money Transfer, Lumevax, GTP, SpinCiti Laundromat, Didi Jollof, Bel Beverages, Accra College of Medicine, Coronation Insurance Ghana, Academic City University and YFM.