Ordinarily, it is expected that schools with only pure science facilities would battle for supremacy in the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ).

As an intense competition which demands acumen in the sciences, some schools in the Upper West region however defied their lack of science facilities and qualified subject teachers to represent their schools in the ongoing regional qualifiers.

Although their hope to dignify their schools did not go as expected, the students who pursued General Arts, Agriculture and Home Economics exhibited real heroism and pure grit.

The National competition has usually been dominated by students with pure science backgrounds.

To make a statement at the competition, schools in the Upper West region defied their
lack of science facilities to present students with a bit of demonstrated skills in the applied sciences.

But what are the results?

Ullo Senior High and Jamiat Islamic Girls SHS at the end of their contest managed to score 2 points and 6 points respectively as against their contender’s 42 points.

Ullo SHS and Jamiat Islamic Girls SHS both not a Science-based school had to struggle to garner some points at end of their contest.

Ullo SHS fielded students who pursued Agriculture and Home Economics.

“I am not happy. The physics and chemistry proved difficult for us. Because it was the first time hearing some of the questions,” a contestant of Jamiat SHS said.

With almost no facilities, they are forced to turn their classrooms into science laboratories to have a feel of the practicalities of science education.

“The apparatus for science practicals is only one. That’s what the teachers uses for all of us. So we don’t get to have a feel of it ourselves to better appreciate what we are being taught,” a contestant said.

For students of Jamiat Girls SHS who were essentially Home Economics students, it was an opportunity to test their cognitive presumptions.

“I was so nervous. I simply could not start anything. It was only guessing we were doing. That’s what saved us,” one of them said.

The NSMQ is expected to present a level playing field for all competing schools, but it remains a mirage for some senior high schools who hope to clinch the national title. 

This is largely due to the infrastructural deficits plaguing most schools, especially those in rural communities. 

Chief Inspector of Schools in the region, Alhaji Dogo Yakubu says many schools in the hinterlands of the Upper West region lack qualified subject teachers.

“You see some of the teachers who never did science teaching science. Most of the schools in the hinterlands do not have subject teachers. These students normally participate to have experience against the future,” he said.

Compared to students from pure science backgrounds, a number of applied science students can barely keep up with the competition.

However, for NSMQ coordinator of Ko Senior High School, the trial is worth the experience.

“We make them understand that it’s not only the sciences that can stand for the competition. Any other school can do so. When them come they get to have a lot of experience. They have improved in the True or False session. We picked a few tricks the other time we participated. We hope to qualify to the nationals someday,” he said.

Despite their poor performance, their actions smacks of pure grit to bring glory to the name of their schools in their own small ways