The countdown is over, the brainiest showdown in Ghana is here!

As 174 schools storm the University of Cape Coast for the 2025 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), all eyes are on fifteen fearless debutants who have fought their way from unknown to the national stage. They have come armed with courage, curiosity, and calculators, ready to battle the sharpest minds.

This year’s contest features a record 174 schools, 17 more than the previous year, a clear sign that the competition’s reach and relevance keep growing.

Among them are 27 seeded schools, 106 regional champions, 32 top runners-up, nine private institutions, and fifteen bold debutants rewriting their school stories with this historic entry.

The debutants include Prampram SHS, Akro SHTS, Mankessim SHTS, Agona SHTS, Attafuah SHTS, Ngleshie Amanfro SHS, Abomusu STEM SHS, Wovenu SHTS, Presby SHS Adeiso, Senya SHS, Juaboso SHS, Anum Presby SHS, Salaga T.I. Ahmadiyya SHS, Our Lady of Lourdes Girls’ SHS, and Nyakrom SHTS.

For these schools, the road to Cape Coast has been a journey of persistence and passion.

In the Savannah Region, Salaga T.I. Ahmadiyya SHS shocked regional favourites Damongo SHS to qualify for the first time, while in Greater Accra, Ngleshie Amanfro SHS and Prampram SHS rose above strong contenders to earn their place.

From the Eastern Region, Akro SHTS and Attafuah SHTS also broke long-standing barriers, securing their spots after years of near misses.

In the Upper East Region, Our Lady of Lourdes Girls’ SHS turned heads with a commanding performance that not only booked them a national slot but also made them one of the few all-girls schools debuting this year.

Each of these schools carries more than just a dream; they carry the pride of their communities, the belief of their teachers, and the cheers of thousands of young Ghanaians who now see possibility in their own classrooms.

As the championship unfolds this week, their challenge is clear: prove that brilliance has no boundaries and that even first-timers can rise to greatness.

The 2025 NSMQ may be filled with familiar giants and seasoned competitors, but these debutants are here to remind everyone that legends, too, have to start somewhere.