The National Science and Mathematics Quiz is an annual science and mathematics content-based national-level quiz competition for senior high schools in Ghana. The National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) began in 1994 and has since become the ultimate battleground for the brightest minds across the nation.
Year after year, we witness the relentless pursuit of victory as schools battle it out for glory and academic supremacy. But amidst the fierce competition and relentless passion, there are a few top schools that have never won the prestigious NSMQ title.
Join me as I bring to you the story of the top ten Category A schools that have surprisingly never won the NSMQ. Since the inception of this competition, only two all-female schools have made it to the finals. Which schools are those? We’ll delve into their rich histories, legendary performances, and the remarkable individuals who have left an indelible mark on the quiz landscape. Let’s dive into it!
- Wesley Girls SHS
Since the inception of NSMQ, only two all-female schools; Wesley Girls’ High School and Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS have made it to the finals. This record was first set by Wesley Girls High School in the year 1999 as they came out as the first runner-up. Even though they weren’t able to win but they became the first-ever all-girls school to set that record. They were beaten by Mfantsipim School.
In 2020, Wesley girls made it to the one-eighth stage and regional qualifiers only to be eliminated at the next stage. Opoku Ware School eliminated Holy Child School and Wesley Girls’ High School to make it to the Semifinal Stage of the 2020 edition of the NSMQ.
In 2022 WEY GEY HEY lost to Mawuli school and was unseeded. They didn’t make it to the quarter-finals. The contest featured Wesley Girls’ High School, Awudome SHS, and Mawuli School. This was forever marked as a historic loss for Wesley Girls’ High School.
In 2021, Wesley Girls’ made it to the semifinals but they lost to Keta SHTS in a heated semi-final contest. Keta Senior High Technical School for the first time qualified for the Grand Finale by winning the contest with 53 points, whereas their closest contender – Wesley Girls’ High School – scored 35 points at the end of the five rounds of the contest.
In 2019, Wesley Girls’ SHS progressed to the semifinal of the National Science and Maths Quiz after a monumental win over two of the best schools in the competition. The girls displayed a consistent performance of accuracy to kick out the two favourites; four-time champions, Prempeh College and Achimota School, two-time champions, and the reigning Greater Accra Regional champions. Unfortunately, they lost to the defending champions St. Peters Senior High School in the semifinals.
In 2018, Wesley Girls did not make it past the quarter-finals stage. Only one all-female school; Krobo Girls’ SHS was able to make it past the quarterfinal stage. Wesley Girls’ High School was ousted from the contest at the quarterfinal stage.
Fortunately, Wesley Girls’ made it to the quarterfinals stage in 2017, however, Kumasi High School, in the 7th quarter-final contest, eliminated Wesley Girls’ High School and T.I. Amass, Fomena to make it to the semi-final stage of the 2017 National Science & Maths Quiz.
2. ABURI GIRLS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
It was an emotional scene at the Kumapley Auditorium, KNUST, in 2022 when Adu Gyamfi Senior High School beat Aburi Girls’ SHS by an impressive margin in the first contest of the second day of the Preliminary Stage. Adu Gyamfi SHS proved too difficult opposition for Aburi Girls Senior High School, a. k. a. ‘the Royal beads,’ and Sefwi Wiawso SHS. The contest was full of drama and tension amid exhilarating cheers and ‘jama’ from the supporters of Adu Gyamfi SHS.
In 2022 Adu Gyamfi senior high school prevailed over Aburi girls and went on to face Accra Academy and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Girl’s SHS to progress to the quarter-finals. Aburi girls could not qualify for the one-eighth stage. In 2023, they also performed well and made it to the national championship after passing the regional championship. How far they go in the competition is yet to be seen.
In 2021 Aburi Girls qualified for the one-eighth stage and competed with Wesley Girls High School and St. Francis Xavier Jnr. Sem. SHS. It was the eighth with 37 points among the top 15 runners-up to qualify for the One-eighth Stage. Unfortunately, Aburi Girls’ withdrew from the competition allowing St. Roses SHS to participate in the Preliminary stage of the competition.
In 2020 Aburi girls performed well at the Regional Qualifiers with a total of 25 points and were placed in POT C, with schools in POT A having the highest marks.
In 2018, for the first time in 3 years, Abugiss won their one-eighth contest beating Kumasi Academy and SDS SHS Bekwai. Aburi girls made it to the quarter-finals together with St. Peters, New Juaben SHS, Krobo girls’ SHS, and Koforidua Sec. Tech. A total of 27 schools made it to the quarter-finals. Aburi Girls’ came face to face with Obuasi SHTS and Abuakwa State, but didn’t prevail.
In 2017, Aburi Girls’ didn’t make it to the semi-finals. Ghana National College dominated the competition and knocked out Aburi Girls’ SHS and Archbishop Porter Girls’ SHS in the first quarter-finals series to make it to the 2017 National Science & Maths Quiz semifinals.
3. Accra Academy
In 2016, 2018, and 2019, Accra Academy made it to the Quarterfinals, but that was as far as they went.
In 2020, Accra Academy toppled the 2019 reigning champions of the NSMQ, St. Augustine’s College, in an incredible battle of wits in the third contest of the Quarterfinal Stage. Accra Academy made it to the semifinal stage with Opoku Ware School and Boa Amponsem SHS, with Opoku Ware School securing the first slot in the Finals. Unfortunately, things went further downhill for Accra Academy in the third round, when they scored only two points in the Problem of the Day andsadly,that was how far Accra Academy went in the competition that year.
In 2021, Accra Academy passed the one-eighth stage after beating Okuapemman School and Fiaseman SHS. They also made it to the quarter-finals and contested with KNUST SHS and OLA SHS, Ho. They however did not make it past the regional championship, with Chemu SHS emerging as the winners.
The Kumapley Auditorium, KNUST, was the battleground for a Quarterfinal Spot in the 2022 National Championship among Accra Academy, Adu Gyamfi Senior High School, and Our Lady of Mount Camel Girls’ SHS. Adu Gyamfi SHS and Mt. Camel Girls gave Accra Academy a good fight, however, Accra Academy came out superior. In a heated contest between Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary, Legon (PRESEC), Accra Academy (ACCRA ACA), and Pope John Min. Sem & SHS (POJOSS), PRESEC was victorious. This marked the end of the competition for Accra Academy.
4. Mfantsiman Girls’ Senior High School
Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS, is one of the only two all-girls schools to have ever made it to the final stage of the NSMQ. In the year 2013, St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, along with Presbyterian Boys Secondary School and Mfantsiman Girls Senior High School competed in the grand finale. At the end of all the rounds, St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School took the lead, and the all-girls school, Mfantsiman Girls Senior High became the second runner-up.
Unfortunately, for the third consecutive year Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS, lost the opportunity to participate in the National Championship, as they lost their contest to Assin State College. Assin State College beat Mfantsiman Girls’ in 2019 and returned in 2020 even stronger, to beat them again at the Regional Qualifiers.
For a couple of years, they have suffered some heavy defeats; the bigger downfall being in 2020, where they were trounced by Kumasi Academy by a 20-point margin at the One-eighth Stage.
It is not all bad news however, in 2016 and 2017, Mfantsiman qualified for the National Science & Maths Quiz one-eighth stage. They also qualified for the quarter-final stage in 2016 and contested with St. Thomas Aquinas SHS and Aggrey Memorial SHS in order to proceed to the semifinal stage.
In 2015 they also qualified for the quarter-final stage and contested with Koforidua, Prempeh College, Assin Manso SHS, and St. Francis Xavier SHS. Unfortunately, Mfantsipim never won the NSMQ, not even once.
5. Archbishop Porters Girls’ Senior High School
Archbishop Porters Girls’ SHS won their contest at the one-eighth stage of the competition beating Tema Secondary School and Kintampo SHS. They qualified for the quarter-finals of the NSMQ in 2017 and contested with Aburi Girls’ SHS and Ghana National College.
Unfortunately, Ghana National College knocked out Aburi Girls’ SHS and Archbishop Porter Girls’ SHS in the first series of the quarter-finals to make it to the semifinals of the 2017 National Science & Maths Quiz. Archbishop Porter Girls’ SHS lost and exited the competition.
6. St. Mary’s Senior High School
At the preliminary stage, St. Mary’s SHS battled it out with St. Thomas Aquinas SHS and Ghanata SHS in 2020. In 2019, St. Mary’s SHS was the first to contest at the one-eighth stage with Chemu Senior High School and EPC Mawuko Girls’ Senior High School. They however did not make it far in both competitions.
In 2021, St. Mary’s SHS passed the one-eighth state only to meet PRESEC Legon and Ghana SHS, Tamale, where guess what, they lost to PRESEC Legon. That marked the end of the competition for them that year as well.
In 2018, St. Mary’s SHS faced Accra Academy and Anlo Afiadenyigba SHS in the Preliminary stage of the competition. Accra Academy put up a good performance and won the challenge. Ever since then, St. Mary’s has been competing in the NSMQ but has never won.
7. Notre Dame Seminary SHS
The team from the Notre Dame Seminary SHS did not spare any chance to book a place in the One-eighth stage of the 2021 National Championship. The school took an early lead and dominated throughout the competition’s five rounds, winning against Kanton SHS and E.P SHS, Saboba. They then went on to face St. Peter’s SHS and Notre Dame Girls’ SHS. Unfortunately for Notre Dame SHS, St. Peter’s SHS recorded a landslide victory over Notre Dame Girls’ SHS & Notre Dame Seminary SHS and successfully booked a place in the Quarter-final Stage of the 2021 National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ).
In 2022, Notre Dame Seminary SHS contested at the one-eighth stage of the competition with Swedru SHS and SIMMS SHS. Swedru SHS won the contest with an outstanding fifteen-point gap. Notre Dame Seminary SHS lost!
In 2020 Notre Dame Seminary SHS competed with Navrongo SHS and Vitting SHS in the fourth contest of the preliminary stage. After an embarrassing loss to Sandema SHTS in the Regional Qualifiers, Notre Dame Seminary SHS came back to lose miserably to Navrongo SHS. Sandema SHTS qualified for the NSMQ Prelims by subjecting the highly-rated Notre Dame Seminary SHS to ridicule. Notre Dame Seminary SHS was out of the competition.
In 2018 Notre Dame SHS took part in the preliminary stage of the competition. In the final preliminary contest for the day, Notre Dame SHS was knocked out by Breman Asikuma SHS with 31 points to seal the qualification to the one-eighth stage of NSMQ. At the one-eighth stage, St. Peter’s SHS slowly built momentum to beat Notre Dame SHS with 49 points.
Notre Dame SHS was part of the thirty winners of the preliminary stage with 43pts coming in the 21st place. They also qualified for the one-eighth stage in 2016 and competed with Wesley Girls’ Senior High School and Kwanyako SHTS. They however did not get far in the competition this year as well.
In 2014, Notre Dame SHS also competed with Kumasi Academy and Mawuli school for a slot in the semifinals but as you may have rightly guessed, their race ended prematurely.
8. St. Louis Senior High School
St. Louis Senior High School made it all the way to the quarter-finals in 2021 where they competed with Keta SHTS and Ghana National Colleges scoring 51 points but they however lost to Keta SHST who scored 68 points.
In 2017, St. Louis Senior High School also qualified for the one-eighth stage of the competition and competed with Prempeh College and Toase SHS.
In both cases, St. Loius Senior High School’s progress in the competition was cut short.
9. Bishop Herman
In 2022, Bishop Herman qualified for the quarter-finals of the NSMQ after a short-lived victory over Kumasi Academy SHS and Fiaseman SHS. After that victory, they had to face Kumasi High School and St. Francis Xavier Jr. Sem in the quarter-finals. The contest ended on a joyful note for Kumasi High School, the ‘Mmeranteɛ’ as they “rose high” over BIHECO and XAVIER to the Semifinals. Sadly, that was the end of the race for Bishop Herman.
In 2021, they were doing well in the competition having qualified again for the one-eighth stage of the competition. The first Volta-Oti Zone contest in the Championship ended with Bishop Herman College (BIHECO) emerging winners over Nkwanta SHS and Abor SHS. Bishop Herman however failed to qualify for the quarter-finals as they lost in a contest between them, Adisadel College and Osei Tutu SHS. Adisadel College emerged as the winner while Bishop Herman lost.
In 2020 Bishop Herman began on a good note as part of the regional qualifiers with a high score of 67, the 4th best in the competition so far. They alsoqualified for the one-eighth stage where they met Adisadel College and Tarkwa SHS. Bishop Herman lost to Adisadel College in that contest.
In 2017, Bishop Herman made it to the one-eighth stage of the NSMQ where they competed with Juaso SHTS and St. Thomas Aquinas SHS. St. Thomas Aquinas SHS came out victorious, Bishop Herman lost! After the end of the contest, Juaso SHTS and Bishop Herman College scored 37 and 34 points respectively whilst St. Thomas Aquinas SHS came tops with 67 points.
10. Accra Girls Senior High School
Of the 134 senior high schools from all regions of Ghana who competed in the 2016 NSMQ, 27 made it to the quarter-finals. Out of the 27 schools, Accra Girls was not one of them.
In 2021, a similar story unfolded as Accra Girls, Chemu SHS, and Christian Methodist SHS competed for the Regional Qualifiers. The contest ended with Chemu SHS in the lead with 57 points, Christian Methodist in second place with 19 points, and Accra Girls in last place with 15 points. This marked the end of the road for Accra Girls SHS.
In 2022, they again could not make it to the Regional Qualifiers as they were sent packing in the preliminary contest between Tema Senior High School, West African Senior High School (WASS), and Frafraha Community SHS. WASS emerged as the winner while Accra Girls SHS lost.
The story isn’t any better in 2023 for Accra Girls as they competed in the Greater Accra Regional Qualifiers with Chemu Senior High School and Ada Senior High School. Chemu scored a total of 48 points while Accra Girls’ SHS scored 34 points. Surprisingly, Accra Girls came out as the loser.