The NSMQ 2026 quarterfinals feature 27 schools in nine contests. See the full fixtures, regional breakdown, key matchups and EducateGhana.com’s analysis.
By: Ferdinand Ellis
Publisher: EducateGhana.com
Article Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Article Type | Education News / Competition Analysis |
| Competition | National Science and Maths Quiz |
| Edition | NSMQ 2026 |
| Stage | Quarterfinals |
| Number of Schools | 27 |
| Number of Contests | 9 |
| Venue | University of Cape Coast |
| Scheduled Dates | August 30 to September 1, 2026 |
| Qualification at Stake | Semifinal places |
| Analysis | EducateGhana.com |
| Author | Ferdinand Ellis |
Fact Check & Editorial Review
The 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz has reached the quarterfinal stage, with 27 schools scheduled to compete in nine three-school contests.
The quarterfinal contests are scheduled to take place from August 30 to September 1, 2026, at the University of Cape Coast.
The regional figures and fixtures presented below are based on the competition information supplied for this report.
Editorial note: Predictions and descriptions such as “favourite”, “open contest” and “clash of titans” are EducateGhana.com’s analysis and should not be treated as official NSMQ results or forecasts by the organisers.
Key Takeaways
- 27 schools have reached the NSMQ 2026 quarterfinals.
- The schools will compete in nine three-school contests.
- Central Region leads the regional representation with seven schools in the quarterfinal field.
- Greater Accra follows with six schools.
- Ashanti and Eastern Regions have five schools each.
- Volta has two representatives, while Western and Northern have one each.
- Several contests feature schools with strong histories in the NSMQ.
- The quarterfinal winners will progress to the semifinal stage.
NSMQ 2026 Quarterfinals: 27 Schools Enter the Battle
The 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz has entered one of its most competitive stages as 27 senior high schools prepare for the quarterfinal contests.
The schools have survived the earlier stages of the competition and are now nine contests away from determining the semifinalists.
Each contest brings together three schools, creating a format in which teams must maintain concentration across Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and other areas tested by the competition.
The quarterfinal stage is particularly important because a single poor round can significantly affect a school’s chances of progressing.
Central Region Leads the Regional Breakdown
Central Region has the largest number of schools represented in the quarterfinals, with seven schools.
Greater Accra follows with six, while Ashanti and Eastern Regions each have five representatives.
Volta Region has two schools, while Western and Northern Regions have one representative each.
Regional Representation
| Region | Number of Schools |
|---|---|
| Central | 7 |
| Greater Accra | 6 |
| Ashanti | 5 |
| Eastern | 5 |
| Volta | 2 |
| Western | 1 |
| Northern | 1 |
| Total | 27 |
Central and Greater Accra therefore account for 13 of the 27 quarterfinalists, representing approximately 48.1% of the field.
This gives the two regions considerable representation at the quarterfinal stage.
Full NSMQ 2026 Quarterfinal Fixtures
Contest 1: Prempeh College vs Keta SHTS vs Ghana National College
This contest brings together three schools with considerable academic reputations.
EducateGhana.com assessment: Prempeh College enters as one of the schools likely to attract considerable attention, but Keta SHTS and Ghana National College have the opportunity to change the expected order with a strong opening performance.
Key question: Can either challenger disrupt Prempeh’s expected advantage?
Contest 2: Osei Tutu SHS vs Ofori Panin SHS vs Pope John SHS & Minor Seminary
This is another contest involving schools with strong academic traditions.
Osei Tutu SHS, Ofori Panin SHS and Pope John SHS & Minor Seminary will have to produce consistent performances across the rounds.
EducateGhana.com assessment: This could develop into a closely fought contest, with early momentum likely to be important.
Contest 3: St. John’s Grammar vs Aburi Girls’ SHS vs St. Augustine’s College
The third contest features St. John’s Grammar, Aburi Girls’ SHS and St. Augustine’s College.
St. Augustine’s College has a long history in the NSMQ and will attract attention because of its established record in the competition.
EducateGhana.com assessment: St. Augustine’s may enter with considerable expectations, although the three-school format leaves room for an upset.
Contest 4: Labone SHS vs St. Hubert Seminary and College vs Tamale SHS
This contest has a particularly interesting geographical dimension.
Tamale SHS represents the Northern Region, while Labone SHS and St. Hubert Seminary and College represent schools from the southern part of the country.
EducateGhana.com assessment: Tamale SHS carries significant interest as the Northern Region’s sole quarterfinal representative. A semifinal qualification would be an important achievement.
Contest 5: Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS vs St. John’s School, Sekondi vs Saviour SHS
The fifth contest brings together Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS, St. John’s School of Sekondi and Saviour SHS.
Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS will be seeking to demonstrate that its place among the quarterfinalists was earned through sustained academic performance.
EducateGhana.com assessment: This is another contest where consistency rather than reputation alone could determine the winner.
Contest 6: The Clash of Titans
PRESEC Legon vs Presbyterian SHS, Bompata vs Mfantsipim School
This is arguably one of the most anticipated quarterfinal contests.
The contest brings together Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon, commonly known as PRESEC Legon, Presbyterian Senior High School, Bompata, and Mfantsipim School.
PRESEC Legon and Mfantsipim have established themselves among Ghana’s most recognisable names in the NSMQ.
Bompata, meanwhile, arrives with the potential to cause another major upset after its earlier run in the competition.
EducateGhana.com assessment: This is a genuine contest of pedigree, momentum and execution. A strong opening could be decisive.
Contest 7: Amaniampong SHS vs Chemu SHTS vs Bright SHS
Amaniampong SHS, Chemu SHTS and Bright SHS will battle for one semifinal position.
Unlike some of the contests dominated by historically prominent NSMQ names, this contest presents an opportunity for any of the three schools to seize national attention.
EducateGhana.com assessment: Amaniampong SHS may attract early attention, but this contest should not be treated as predetermined.
Contest 8: Achimota School vs Boa Amponsem SHS vs Adisadel College
The eighth quarterfinal contest features Achimota School, Boa Amponsem SHS and Adisadel College.
Achimota and Adisadel are among Ghana’s well-known traditional secondary schools, giving this contest considerable historical interest.
Adisadel College’s presence also gives the contest a strong Central Region dimension.
EducateGhana.com assessment: Achimota and Adisadel are likely to attract much of the attention, but Boa Amponsem could alter the expected script with a disciplined performance.
Contest 9: Accra Academy vs University Practice SHS vs Bishop Herman College
The final quarterfinal contest features Accra Academy, University Practice SHS and Bishop Herman College.
Accra Academy’s strong academic reputation makes it one of the schools expected to attract attention.
University Practice SHS and Bishop Herman College, however, will have the opportunity to turn the contest into a three-way battle.
EducateGhana.com assessment: Accra Academy may begin as the school attracting the strongest expectations, but the result will ultimately depend on performance during the contest.
Which Schools Are the Favourites?
It is too early to describe any school as a guaranteed semifinalist.
However, several names immediately stand out because of their historical records, experience and reputation in the NSMQ.
Among the schools attracting significant attention are:
- PRESEC Legon
- Prempeh College
- Mfantsipim School
- Adisadel College
- St. Augustine’s College
- Pope John SHS & Minor Seminary
- Achimota School
These reputations provide context, but they do not determine the outcome of an individual contest.
The quarterfinal format gives every participating school an opportunity to qualify through its performance on the day.
Why the Quarterfinals Matter
The quarterfinals represent a major test of depth and consistency.
At this stage, teams have already demonstrated that they possess the academic ability to compete nationally. The challenge now is to reproduce that performance under greater pressure.
Contestants must manage time, respond accurately to questions and recover quickly from mistakes.
For schools with long NSMQ histories, the quarterfinals also provide an opportunity to strengthen their championship campaigns.
For less established contenders, qualification for the semifinals can create one of the most significant moments in their school’s recent academic history.
Regional Representation and the National Competition
The strong representation from Central and Greater Accra is one of the notable features of the 2026 quarterfinal field.
Central Region’s seven schools give it the largest presence, while Greater Accra’s six schools place the region second.
Ashanti and Eastern each have five representatives, demonstrating that the competition remains geographically broad despite the concentration in the leading regions.
The presence of Tamale SHS as the Northern Region’s sole representative also adds an important national dimension to the quarterfinals.
What Happens After the Quarterfinals?
The winners of the nine quarterfinal contests will progress to the semifinal stage.
For the 27 participating schools, therefore, the immediate objective is clear: finish first in the respective three-school contest.
Every point will matter.
The semifinal stage will then bring the surviving schools closer to the ultimate prize of becoming the NSMQ 2026 champions.
EducateGhana.com NSMQ 2026 Coverage
EducateGhana.com will continue tracking the competition, including quarterfinal results, semifinal fixtures, school performances and the eventual route to the NSMQ 2026 Grand Finale.
Readers should follow the platform for verified results and detailed post-contest analysis as the competition progresses.
Conclusion
The NSMQ 2026 quarterfinals promise nine contests involving 27 schools with different histories, regional identities and levels of experience.
Central Region enters with the largest representation, while Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern also have strong numbers.
Several traditional NSMQ powerhouses are still in contention, but the quarterfinal stage can produce surprises.
The attention now turns to the University of Cape Coast, where the 27 schools will compete for the nine available semifinal places.
Who will survive the quarterfinals and move one step closer to becoming NSMQ 2026 champions?
EducateGhana.com will bring readers the results and analysis as the contests unfold.
