WASSCE student criticises NSMQ as show off, benchmark program
A final-year student of Nsein Senior High School, Richlove Oduro has described the National Science and Mathematics Quiz (NSMQ) as a show-off and a benchmark to determine which second-cycle schools are good in the country.
In an interview monitored by Pretertiary.com which has sparked debate online, the WASSCE candidate said the NSMQ produced by Primetime Limited cannot be used or should not be used as a benchmark to determine good schools.
Describing the Science and Maths Quiz as just a show, she said students who compete in the NSMQ are inherently biologically intelligent arguing that schools do not exert any special effort or provide unique training to prepare them.
But Richlove following backlash about her remakes on the National Science and Math Quiz has clarified that her comments on the program have been misinterpreted, stressing that she did not label the competition as “bogus.”
The Nsien Senior High School student explained that her statement was intended to convey that the National Science and Mathematics Quiz (NSMQ) should not be the sole measure of a school’s quality or academic excellence.
She emphasized that while competition plays a vital role in promoting science and mathematics, it should not be the only benchmark used to judge the capabilities and achievements of various second-cycle schools in the country.
Urging people to consider the full context of her statement before forming opinions. Oduro reiterated her respect for the NSMQ and its significance in Ghana’s education sector, clarifying that her intention was never to undermine the value of the competition.
Despite the backlash, Richlove Oduro has received a gift of GH¢1,000 from a man identified as Sam Wallcot for her opinion about the National Science and Maths Quiz held annually with Senior High School students as contestants.
Meanwhile, Ms. Nana Akua A. Mensa-Bonsu, Managing Director of Primetime, the producer for the contest, has said the National Science and Mathematics Quiz (NSMQ) in the next 30 years will be a huge global competition.
The 2025 National Science and Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and sponsored by the Ghana Education Service in partnership with GOIL PLC and supported by Pepsodent, Jupay, and Prudential Life Insurance Ghana.
Introduced in 1993 by Primetime Limited, the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) is an annual science and mathematics content-based national-level quiz competition for (public and private) Senior High Schools in Ghana.
The objective of the National Science & Maths Quiz is to promote the study of the sciences and mathematics, help students develop quick thinking and a probing and scientific mind about the everyday world around them, while fostering healthy academic rivalry among senior high schools.
The broadcast of the National Science & Maths Quiz on JoyNews is supported by NASCO, VitaMilk, Virtual Security Africa, Ace Medical Insurance, Built Financial Technologies, DBS Roofing, Sintex Tanks, Family Health Medical School, Chopbox Technologies, and Action Secondary Technical School.
