Prempeh College alumni have urged Primetime Limited to halt this year’s National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) final until the school’s concerns regarding a riddle question during the semi-finals are addressed. The school authorities and former students have called for an independent body, such as the Ministry of Education or the Physics Department of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), to review the matter before the final to resolve doubts raised by the school.
According to Ebenezer Owusu Wireko, a member of the alumni, a group of competent physicists, about three to five individuals, should impartially examine the issue. They want the world to acknowledge that they are in the right.
Wireko emphasized that until an impartial body assesses the matter, the “quiz final should be suspended.” He added, “Our position is that we need a competent body to listen to our perspective and Primetime’s side as well. It’s not just about going to the finals; we want people to understand that science is science. You cannot simply disregard Prempeh College and move on. Science is based on facts, and discretion cannot be used to make judgments. We insist that our answer is correct, and we will take all available steps, including legal ones, to ensure that Prempeh College and its contestants receive a fair hearing.”
Prempeh College’s protest is rooted in a riddle question posed during the semi-final contest against Opoku Ware Senior High School (OWASS) and Pope John’s SHS & Minor Seminary. When the contest concluded, Prempeh College and Pope John’s had 36 points each, while OWASS emerged victorious with 38 points. Prempeh College challenged the answer to a riddle in the fifth round and requested a review of its contestant’s response, along with the annulment of the contest’s results in favor of the school.
In response to the protest, Primetime Limited upheld the quiz mistress’s decision not to award any marks to Prempeh College for the answer it provided to the riddle. The school had argued that a deliberate injustice had been committed against it. Nonetheless, the stage is set for the grand finale of the 2023 NSMQ at the National Theatre in Accra. The competition featured the reigning champions, Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (Presec, Legon), Achimota School (1998 and 2004 winners), and OWASS (1997 and 2002 champions). In the semi-final contest, Presec, Legon outperformed Mfantsipim School and Keta Senior High Technical School. Achimota School clinched victory over Wesley Girls’ High School, and OWASS won against Prempeh College and Pope John’s.
The final is scheduled for today at the National Theatre. The outcome of Prempeh College’s appeal remains uncertain.
Source: [Daily Graphic]
