This year’s National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) will no longer come off between June and July as scheduled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to Primetime Limited, organisers of the programme, it “is closely monitoring the crisis and will share updates on new dates for the championship as soon as they are available”.
The National Science & Maths Quiz seeks to promote the study of Science and Mathematics in the country. The programme has been popular at unearthing local young scholarly talent since 1993, and was adjudged the CIMG TV Programme of the Year 2017.
Qualifying schools
At the end of the qualifying series, a total of 108 schools made it to the national contest. The 108 schools were expected to join 27 schools that had been seeded for this year’s competition.
This year’s NSMQ nearly suffered a jolt after the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) said it would be difficult for schools to organise their students for this year’s as a result of inadequate funds.
“We, therefore, wish to inform management that until adequate funds are made available, schools will not be in the position to participate in the NSMQ in any form,” a letter signed by the President of CHASS, Alhaji Yakub A.B. Abubakar, and addressed to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), said.
The GES, in a letter to regional directors of education, acknowledged receipt of the letter from CHASS, saying “the Director-General has also received representation from some schools indicating their willingness to participate in the competition”.
“In order to make an informed decision on the matter, regional directors are hereby requested to compile the list of schools which are willing to participate in the competition so that appropriate action can be taken on the request, since it is only schools which will participate in the competition which will be eligible for the money earmarked for the competition’’.
Schools that were interested, therefore, went ahead to take part in the competition, leading to the 108 schools making it to the finals.
Greater Accra has eight schools, Central Region, 10; Eastern Region, 16; Ashanti Region, 21; Western North, two; Ahafo Region, three; Bono Region, six; Bono East, four; Western Region, six; Volta Region, 12; Oti Region, four; Savannah Region, one; Northern Region, six; Upper East Region, six; North East, one and Upper West Region, two.
Schools closure
Due to the COVID-19, the government, effective March 16, 2020, directed the closure of all schools in the country until further notice.
St Augustine’s College won the 2019 edition of the National Science and Maths Quiz.
This was after it defeated St Peter’s Senior High School and the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School, Legon.
The Quiz Mistress of the National Science and Maths Quiz is Dr Elsie Effah Kaufmann.
Source: Graphic.com
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