The long-awaited National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) Championship has arrived, and the countdown to crown the 2021 winners will start on Tuesday, October 26, with the preliminary contests.

The 2020 winners from PRESEC Legon have urged contestants of the participating schools to be calm and find a way to deal with the anxiety that comes with being on the big stage.

Speaking to JoyNews, Daniel Kekeli Gakpetor advised the contestants that it is a competition and they have little control over the outcome.

“At the end of the day, life goes on. Whatever happens, it’s either you win the competition or lose. But the most important thing is to get it behind you and move on,” he told Maxwell Agbagba.

With the adrenaline rush and pressure experienced, especially from old students who were keen on winning to earn the bragging rights, another contestant, Benjamin Nketsiah, said they should master the act of controlling the pressure from them.

“There is always pressure from the old boys, just put that aside and let your real conviction drive you towards the trophy,” he said.

The 2021 competition will begin with schools in the Greater Accra Region. Chemu SHS will face Tema Methodist SHS and Holy Trinity Catholic SHS.

St Thomas Aquinas SHS will contest with Ashaiman SHS and Ghanata SHS. Whilst Odogonno SHS will match up with OLAM SHS and West Africa SHS.

On Thursday, October 28, the competition will be taken to the Western Region where St John's School will take on Ahantaman Girls' SHS and Fijai SHS.

Takoradi SHS, Archbishop Poter Girls' SHS and Bompeh SHS will face off later. Tarkwa SHS, Fiaseman SHS and Bibiani SHTS will compete.

To cap the event off, St Mary's Boys' SHS, Sefwi Bekwai SHS, and St Augustine's SHS, Bogoso will take their turn.

Central Region's competition will come off on Friday, October 29, where University Practice SHS, Assin State College SHS, Nsaba Presby SHS and Eguafo-Abrem SHS will contest.

Mfantsipim School will take on Aggrey Memorial SHS and T.I AMASS. Finally, Swedru SHS, Winneba SHS and Edinaman SHS will take their round.

Eastern Region will host the NSMQ team for two days; Monday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 2.

15 schools in the region have been fixed to contest with each other.

Group 1; Ofori Panin SHS, Ghana SHS, Saviour SHS. Group 2: Okuapeman School, Manya Krobo SHS and Nkwatia Presby SHS. Group 3; Mpraeso SHS, Abuakwa State College, WBM Zion SHS. Group 4; Nifa SHS, Oda SHS, Boso SHTS. Group 5; Aburi Girls' SHS, Krobo Girls' SHS and Presby SHS, Suhum.

The Volta and Oti Regions will take their turns on Thursday, November 4 and Friday, November 5, respectively.