Bright SHS Makes History as First Private School to Reach NSMQ Semi-Finals

Bright Senior High School has made history as the first private school to qualify for the semi-final stage of the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) after a dramatic victory over Chemu Senior High Technical School and Amaniampong Senior High School.

Bright SHS secured the historic qualification with 27 points, narrowly beating Chemu SHTS, who finished with 26 points, while Amaniampong SHS ended the contest with 22 points.

The result was a remarkable turnaround for Bright SHS, who trailed both schools for much of the contest before taking the lead in the fifth and final round.

Amaniampong SHS started strongly and took an early lead with 18 points at the end of Round One. Chemu SHTS followed with 11 points, while Bright SHS had 10.

The contest tightened significantly in the Speed Race. At the end of Round Two, Amaniampong and Chemu were tied on 14 points, with Bright SHS just two points behind on 12.

In the Problem of the Day, Bright SHS and Chemu SHTS each scored two out of 10, while Amaniampong managed one mark.

At the end of Round Three, Chemu had moved into the lead with 16 points, followed closely by Amaniampong on 15 and Bright SHS on 14.

The battle for the semi-final ticket became even tighter in Round Four.

Chemu maintained a narrow lead with 23 points, Amaniampong followed with 22, while Bright SHS remained within touching distance on 21 points.

With only two points separating all three schools, the contest headed into the final round with qualification still open to anyone.

Bright SHS produced the decisive performance in the Riddles, moving from third place on 21 points to finish the contest with 27 points.

Chemu SHTS added three points to finish on 26, just one point behind the winners, while Amaniampong remained on 22 points.

The victory sends Bright SHS into the 2026 NSMQ semi-finals and marks the first time a private senior high school has reached that stage of the competition.

For Bright SHS, the historic qualification also means the school is now a step away from the grand finale of Ghana’s National Science and Maths Quiz.