body-container-line-1

Grooming Talents Through National Science And Maths Quiz

Feature Article Grooming Talents Through National Science And Maths Quiz
JUN 26, 2018 LISTEN

I hardly pay attention to the National Science and Maths Quiz (hereafter NSMQ), but I spent today watching my alma mater, West Africa Secondary School, perform credibly as they trashed competitive schools in the quiz. Since the coming into vogue of the competition in the early 1990s, many contesting pupils have shown rare precociousness and demonstrated great potentials as scientists.

When I was at WASS in 1998, we were often told that the school’s area of specialisation was Agricultural Science. Teachers like Messrs Horsu and Komlavi were great at teaching agricultural students. Unfortunately, both have gone to be with their maker. At the time when I was at WASS, we did not have well developed laboratory science for science pupils, so science pupils had to go to Legon Presec for experiment. But since I had not been following the NSMQ all this while, I did not know that WASS had the competence in demonstrating authority in the natural sciences. Obviously, things have changed!

Today’s performance by Tade O. Abdul Hameed and Arkoh Sahene, who represented WASS, rejuvenated my conviction that WASS is, indeed, a great school. The quiz was keenly contested, and the pupils showed that they had exercised much discipline in the course of their training. I could not hold my jaws together when the pupils answered questions even before the quiz madam finished reading the questions.

As I watched the pupils perform, my hope was reinforced that there is hope for Ghana and Africa. The NSMQ has caught up with many schools to the extent that schools that were hitherto considered underdogs are rewriting the scripts about them. What is impressive is the involvement of old school associations in the preparation of pupils towards the quiz.

Most of the schools taking part in the contest have had the overwhelming support of their old students. The money that old students have invested in providing extrinsic motivation to pupils and teachers is a gesture that must be applauded. The deconstruction of the myth about the invincibility of some so-called first class schools in Ghana has been sustained and clearly articulated through the contest. In invocation of God by the pupils also shows that Ghana has had stint with secular without secularisation. I believe that if these pupils are to continue with their belief in God as potential scientist, we will be able to dismantle the fictitious tension between faith and science!

It is possible that through this contest, many schools will emerge to contest the past glories of some schools in Ghana. It is important for all old students to contribute to support their respective schools in the competition. While not taking the shine from the natural sciences, I think that we need to provide equal competitive platform for pupils in the humanities and business. We are nurturing minds that will contribute to building Ghana and the continent of Africa.

Congratulations to West Africa Secondary School, my alma mater, for qualifying to the quarterfinal. We know the pupils will make the school proud by lifting the trophy.

Gbotsui e Emashie!
Charles Prempeh ([email protected]), African University College of Communications, Accra

body-container-line