STUNNING UPSET: Debutants Fall at the First Hurdle in NSMQ 2026
In a stunning upset, debutants Pentecost SHS, Koforidua fell at the first hurdle in the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) as one-time finalists, St. Francis Xavier Junior Seminary SHS, ended their hopes of reaching the One-Eighth Stage with a largely one-sided victory in the Preliminary Stage.
The Preliminary Stage marked the end of the road for Pentecost SHS, who struggled to keep pace with the experienced St. Francis Xavier Junior Seminary SHS team.
A Dominant Performance
St. Francis Xavier led 18-14 after Round One, with Nana Bretu yet to score. The gap widened in the second round as St. Francis Xavier moved to 28 points while Pentecost SHS remained on 14 points. Nana Bretu were still without a point, leaving the contest increasingly tilted towards the two schools at the top.
The result sends St. Francis Xavier into the One-Eighth stage, while Pentecost's first NSMQ appearance comes to an end.
A Frustrating Contest for Debutants
Pentecost SHS were just four points behind after the opening round, but struggled to keep pace as the contest progressed. The school's response in Round Three with seven points was not enough to close the gap, as St. Francis Xavier maintained their lead with nine to take their total to 37 points.
Nana Bretu finally got on the scoreboard with two points, but Pentecost still faced a 16-point deficit going into Round Four. The final round brought little change, with St. Francis Xavier finishing on 56 points, 31 points ahead of Pentecost SHS, who ended on 25 points.
A Disappointing Debut for Pentecost SHS
The result brings an end to Pentecost SHS's first NSMQ appearance, a disappointing outcome for a school that had high hopes of making a strong impression. The Ghana Education Service, along with other sponsors, including Goil Plc, Prudential Life Insurance, Pepsodent, Trustur AI, and Jupay Money Transfer, had supported the school's participation in the competition.
The 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and sponsored by the Ghana Education Service, with support from various organizations. The Broadcast on JoyNews is sponsored by VitaMilk and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
The contest has now moved to the One-Eighth stage, where St. Francis Xavier Junior Seminary SHS will face new challenges. Will the school's momentum continue, or will they face stiff competition from other teams? Only time will tell.
Source: Joy Online
