Empower the Lower Schools and Stop the Aladdin Syndrome Race in the National Maths and Science Quiz – Francis Appiah Fumes.

The persistent dominance of a small number of elite schools in the National Maths and Science Quiz (NSMQ) has raised serious concerns, according to social commentator and education advocate Francis Appiah, who has called for concerted efforts to strengthen underprivileged schools nationwide.

Speaking to Happy FM in Accra, Mr Appiah referred to the current trend as the “Aladdin Syndrome Race”, in which a small number of schools routinely win, while the majority are merely spectators.

Appiah jokingly remarked, “It is like a race where Aladdin enters with a pistol and shoots anyone who tries to overtake him.” The same schools consistently win, as though the other ones lack both teachers and bright pupils. That is academic dictatorship, not fair competition.

He emphasised that the NSMQ, which was first created to encourage academic excellence across the country, has progressively evolved into a show for a select group of wealthy schools, displacing equally gifted pupils from smaller or more rural institutions.

Citing an African saying, he continued, “Even the chick from a poor hen can grow to become a proud cock.” “New champions will undoubtedly emerge if we provide the same instruction, inspiration, and assistance to every school.”

In order to close the academic gap, Mr Appiah urged the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education, and corporate sponsors to provide more funding and mentorship programmes to underfunded schools.

He came to the conclusion that the NSMQ should be a race of bright minds rather than a dynasty of the same few schools. “Every bird can fly because the sky is wide enough.”

Though schools like PRESEC-Legon, Prempeh College, and St Peter’s SHS frequently dominate the winners, the National Maths and Science Quiz is still Ghana’s top academic competition and continues to spark national discussions about educational inequality and opportunity.

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