Longest-serving mistress for the National Science and Math Quiz (NSMQ), Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, has made her assertion known in a conversation regarding the Presbyterian Boys Senior High School’s (PRESEC) winning streak in the competition.
PRESEC has won the NSMQ eight times. In this year’s contest, the school defended their 2022 title.
Many have wondered why the school has been so successful in the competition.
In an interview on Starr FM on Thursday with host Bola Ray, Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann linked PRESEC’s success to well made preparations by contestants and the institution.
According to Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, fans of the contest are often mesmerized by PRESEC’s output during the race and make plans to enroll in the school. Prior to that, she noted that such students participate in quiz programmes to broaden their horizons.
On how PRESEC is helping itself to win more trophies, she stated that the management of the school also holds quiz programmes. She therefore entreated other schools to make the same investments and shift their focus from singing and dancing to stand a chance to win subsequent editions.
“It seems like their contestants are well prepared even before they get to the school. Some young Junior High School or even basic school student is watching and observing how well the school is doing and deciding their are going to attend that school. These days there are all kinds of quiz programmes. They are practicing there. By the time they get to PRESEC to come and join that team, they already have a head start.
“Compare this to a girls school picking their candidate after a mock in the final year. They have the structures in place. At PRESEC right now, I’m sure they have several different teams and they didn’t start this just yesterday. They have their first-year team. And other schools are singing and dancing, this school is doing quiz programmes. Unfortunately, they don’t get points for those things,” she said.
Meanwhile, Headmaster of Presbyterian Boys SHS, David Odjidja, says preparations have already commenced to enable the school to defend the title of National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) champions for another year.
One would have thought that the school would take a break before commencing training once again, but according to the school’s head, that is not the case.
He explained that “we take it as a project. Last year when we came with the 7th trophy, there were jubilations all over. But the next day, the boys started working towards this trophy. It took less than 24 hours for them to go back to start work.”
In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show, Odjidja explained that the contestants undergo nerve-wracking training for two years in order to prepare for the competition.
“The boys were selected in Form 1, two years ago. They have been working throughout vacations.”
The headmaster of PRESEC emphasized the importance of the trophy for the school’s 85th anniversary.
“This trophy is badly needed for the celebration,” he said.