Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC-Legon) has won the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), extending its record as the competition’s most successful school to nine national titles.
PRESEC defeated St Augustine’s College and Accra Academy in a closely contested grand finale to reclaim the trophy after a two-year absence from the final.
The victory adds another chapter to a remarkable NSMQ record that began with PRESEC’s first championship in 1995.
The National Science and Maths Quiz has become one of Ghana’s most prominent academic competitions since its inception in 1993.
The competition was created to promote interest in science and mathematics among senior high school students while giving schools from across the country a platform to test their academic strength against one another.
The roll of champions includes Prempeh College, PRESEC-Legon, Opoku Ware School, Achimota School, Mfantsipim School, St Peter’s SHS, Pope John SHS and Minor Seminary, St Augustine’s College, Ghana Secondary Technical School and St Thomas Aquinas, among others.
PRESEC’s long association with the NSMQ
PRESEC first won the title in 1995, two years after the competition began. It took the trophy again in 2003, followed by victories in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
The school returned to the top in 2020, before winning consecutive titles in 2022 and 2023.
The 2023 victory was particularly significant because it made PRESEC the first and only school at the time to have successfully defended the NSMQ title on two separate occasions — in 2008-2009 and 2022-2023.
Its ninth title now further separates the school from its closest rivals in the competition’s championship standings.
The road to the 2026 final
PRESEC reached this year’s grand finale after overcoming St John’s School and Tamale Senior High School in their semi-final contest.
They finished that contest on 44 points, ahead of St John’s and Tamale SHS.
St Augustine’s College secured the second final spot after overcoming Prempeh College and Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary.
Accra Academy completed the final line-up after defeating Bright SHS and Achimota School, securing what was described as the school’s first-ever appearance in an NSMQ grand finale.
PRESEC’s comeback
The final itself did not immediately suggest another PRESEC triumph.
The school started slowly, finishing the opening round on nine points, behind both St Augustine’s and Accra Academy, who had 11 points each.
The turning point came in the Problem of the Day round, when PRESEC added four points to move to 21, while St Augustine’s remained on 17 and Accra Academy on 14.
From there, the Ɔdadeɛ boys completed the comeback to claim a ninth NSMQ championship.
