Bosomtwe Girls’ STEM Senior High School has described their participation in the 2025 Ashanti Regional qualifiers of the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) as both “encouraging and revealing,” after narrowly missing out on a place at the national championship by just three points.

The all-girls STEM-focused institution scored 37 points, just shy of the 40-point cut-off required to progress to both the NSMQ nationals and zonal championship. Konongo-Odumase SHS won the contest with 49 points, while New Edubiase SHS managed 22 points.

Despite missing qualification, the Bosomtwe team remained upbeat, pointing out how their school’s STEM-based, practical learning approach contrasts with the NSMQ’s theory-heavy format.

“We do more practicals,” said contestant Evelyn Okyere. “Though we cover theory, our focus is on applying what we learn through hands-on activities. NSMQ is more about quick recall and memorisation, and that affected our performance despite some mistakes that we also made. If we were a bit more conscious, we would have qualified.”

This was Bosomtwe Girls’ second attempt at the regional qualifiers since its establishment under Ghana’s STEM education agenda. The school’s curriculum centres on problem-solving, robotics, innovation, and applied science, prioritising real-world exposure over rote learning.

Another contestant, Dogbey Elizabeth, believes a more practical competition format could have changed their outcome.

“If the NSMQ had a practical section, like robotics or scientific demonstrations, we would be in the nationals. What we do in school is different; we build things, we test ideas, we solve problems,” she explained.

Their mathematics teacher and school coordinator, George Osafo, echoed the students’ sentiments, noting that while the NSMQ is a prestigious academic competition, it doesn't fully reflect the essence of STEM education.

“Our students are being trained to think critically and innovate. The NSMQ tests speed and memory, but we focus on how science applies to everyday life,” he said. “We’re proud of how they performed. They just missed it this time, but we’re learning and improving. We will pick up.”

Bosomtwe Girls’ SHS says their experience has strengthened their resolve and will guide future preparations, not just for the NSMQ, but for shaping Ghana’s next generation of female innovators.