Over the past few days, the comments made by Richlove Oduro regarding the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) have stirred considerable debate. Drawing from my experience at a Grade "A" school, I can provide some context that supports her perspective:
Before even setting foot in my prestigious school, I had already covered approximately 70% of the syllabus through self-study or extra coaching/ remedial training/classes. This wasn't an isolated case; many of my peers arrived with a similar academic head start. Despite this, our school's performance was not uniformly stellar, which might seem counterintuitive given our supposed advantages.
The reality was that the legacy of our school's past glory drove an intense academic culture and fear where students often didn't wait for teachers to initiate learning. While we did receive guidance from our educators, the notion that teachers in schools less prominent in NSMQ are somehow inferior is misguided. The truth is, many students in my class were admitted based on exceptional BECE results or, frankly, financial influence. This admission bias is a clear indicator of systemic inequity in Ghana's educational landscape.
As an NSMQ representative for my school, I can attest that while we invested immense personal effort, the role of our teachers in our NSMQ preparation was often minimal. This isn't to undermine their contributions but to highlight that much of the success in such competitions hinges on the students' pre-existing knowledge and dedication.
The NSMQ, while valuable for promoting STEM education, should not be the sole metric by which we measure a school's influence or quality. It's a competition that, by design, favors institutions with historical advantages and students who can afford additional academic resources. This doesn't necessarily reflect the true educational prowess or the holistic development provided by schools across Ghana.
In essence, Richlove's critique isn't about dismissing NSMQ's importance but challenging the narrative that it alone defines academic excellence or a school's worth. The educational system needs to evolve beyond these narrow benchmarks to truly assess and foster comprehensive educational development. Let’s be realistic, the grade A alumni are the ones occupying top positions in governance, so why the “disaster “ in those places ? The focus of schools should not only be about academics but also about grooming people for leadership and imbibing in them ethics far beyond what we are seeing today .
I really need to meet her
@goshers_ Kindly Make it Happen