Presby SHS Bompata advances to NSMQ One-Eighth Stage with dominant preliminary round victory

Presby Senior High School, Bompata, has booked its passage to the One-Eighth Stage of the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) following a commanding performance that saw the school maintain a commanding lead throughout the preliminary round contest held at the SMS Auditorium.

The Ashanti Region-based school proved too strong for its competitors, finishing with 58 points—a comfortable 19-point margin over second-placed Sacred Heart Senior High School, which accumulated 39 points. Mansen SHS, making its debut appearance at the national stage, managed 7 points.

A Dominant Display from Start to Finish

Presby SHS established control from the opening round, scoring 22 points to Sacred Heart's 15, immediately signalling its intent. The dominance only intensified in Round Two, where Presby extended its advantage to 35 points whilst Sacred Heart moved to just 16 points. Mansen SHS struggled significantly, remaining on 2 points after two rounds.

Although Sacred Heart showed brief signs of recovery in the Problem of the Day segment—narrowing the gap slightly with 8 points against Presby's 7—the effort proved insufficient to meaningfully shift the trajectory of the contest. By the end of Round Three, Presby had stretched its lead to 42 points, with Sacred Heart on 24 points and Mansen on 5.

In the final round, despite Sacred Heart's push to 36 points, Presby's commanding 49-point tally sealed the outcome. The 13-point gap at that juncture left Sacred Heart facing an insurmountable deficit, and the comeback never materialised.

Sacred Heart's Regional strength could not replicate nationally

Sacred Heart arrived at the national stage with considerable momentum, having finished the regional competition with 71 points—a performance that had generated optimism among supporters. However, the reset of scores for the preliminary stage meant that earlier success offered no carryover advantage.

This scenario underscores a key feature of the NSMQ format: consistent excellence on the national platform, rather than regional dominance, determines progression. Sacred Heart's regional pedigree did not translate to the same level of performance when facing fresh national opponents, highlighting the increased competitive standard at this tier of the competition.

What this means for Ghana's science education landscape

The 2026 NSMQ continues to serve as a crucial barometer of excellence in science and mathematics education across Ghana's secondary schools. Presby SHS's advancement represents yet another strong showing from the country's academic institutions, whilst the participation of debut school Mansen SHS reflects the competition's expanding reach into previously underrepresented regions.

As the national title race gathers momentum, schools advancing to subsequent stages will face increasingly demanding challenges. For Presby SHS, the one-eighth stage presents an opportunity to test itself against other regional powerhouses who have similarly dominated their preliminary encounters. The competition's sponsorship by the Ghana Education Service, alongside support from numerous corporate entities, underscores the national importance placed on nurturing young talent in STEM fields.

The NSMQ remains one of Ghana's most prestigious academic competitions, generating considerable national interest and helping to identify and celebrate the country's brightest young minds in science and mathematics.