A remarkable academic journey has captured attention in Ghana after Jason Antwi-Agyei, a student of Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC-Legon), helped his school win the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) championship. The achievement is particularly remarkable because Jason’s journey to the national stage did not begin at PRESEC.
It began years earlier when he was a pupil at KNUST Basic School, where he was part of the team that won the 2023 Junior Science and Maths Quiz (JSMQ). Three years later, the same young scholar was part of the PRESEC-Legon team that defeated St Augustine’s College and Accra Academy to win the 2026 NSMQ championship.
According to reports published following the September 11, 2026 NSMQ final, Jason has become the first Ghanaian student reported to have won both the JSMQ and NSMQ trophies.
A JOURNEY THAT STARTED IN BASIC SCHOOL
Jason’s story provides an important lesson for pupils currently in basic school. Academic excellence does not suddenly appear when a student enters senior high school.
It can begin much earlier. When Jason was at KNUST Basic School, he was already participating in academic competitions and developing his abilities in science and mathematics. His 2023 JSMQ victory provided an early indication of his potential.
But winning one competition was not the end of the journey. It became part of a longer path that eventually took him to one of Ghana’s most prestigious academic competitions. For young pupils reading this story, that journey offers an important message:
What you learn and practise today can prepare you for opportunities that may come years later.
The transition from basic school to senior high school brought Jason to PRESEC-Legon, one of Ghana’s most successful schools in the NSMQ.
On September 10, 2026, the Ghana Education Service highlighted the importance of STEM education during the closing ceremony of the 26th edition of the NSMQ.
GES Deputy Director for Management Services, Professor Smile Dzisi, said the competition had developed beyond a quiz into a national platform that inspires generations of young Ghanaians to embrace science and mathematics.
The following day, September 11, PRESEC-Legon completed its own remarkable chapter by defeating St Augustine’s College and Accra Academy in the grand finale and reclaiming the national trophy. The victory gave PRESEC its ninth NSMQ championship, extending its record as the competition’s most successful school.
For Jason, however, the achievement was even more personal. His journey had come full circle—from a basic-school science and mathematics champion to an NSMQ champion at the senior high-school level.
THE LESSON FOR EVERY YOUNG READER
Jason Antwi-Agyei’s achievement carries an important message for pupils across Ghana: young people do not have to wait until they are older before they begin preparing for their future. His journey demonstrates the importance of developing skills and interests from an early age. Pupils who enjoy Mathematics can strengthen their abilities through regular practice, while those who love Science can develop their curiosity by asking questions, conducting simple experiments and exploring how things work. Children who enjoy reading can broaden their knowledge by reading widely, while those fascinated by technology can learn more about how computers, artificial intelligence, robotics and other technologies work.
For pupils who enjoy solving problems, everyday challenges in their homes, schools and communities can provide opportunities to think creatively and develop possible solutions. Those interested in becoming researchers can begin by learning how to ask meaningful questions, gather information and investigate issues around them. Similarly, children interested in engineering can begin exploring how machines, buildings, structures and other systems are designed and constructed.
A child does not have to decide on a final career at a young age. However, the knowledge, discipline, curiosity, creativity and practical skills that can eventually lead to a successful career can begin developing today.
Jason Antwi-Agyei’s story is ultimately a story of progression. His journey from basic school to becoming a Junior Science and Maths Quiz champion and later an NSMQ champion demonstrates how early academic experiences can provide a foundation for future achievements.
His experience shows that an achievement in basic school should not necessarily be viewed as the end of a child’s academic journey. Instead, it can become the beginning of a much greater journey of learning, competition, discovery and personal development.
For today’s basic-school pupil, participating in a science project, mathematics competition, reading challenge, research activity, coding programme or school club may appear to be just another school activity. However, such experiences can build knowledge, confidence, discipline, teamwork and problem-solving abilities that may become valuable later in life. A small opportunity today can therefore become an important part of a much larger achievement tomorrow.
The next generation of Ghanaian scientists, engineers, doctors, researchers, entrepreneurs, technology professionals and innovators is already sitting in classrooms across the country.
Some young pupils may one day develop technologies that address Ghanaian challenges. Others may conduct research that improves healthcare, agriculture, education or the environment. Some may establish businesses that create employment, while others may become leaders who influence positive change in their communities and beyond.
For the young pupil reading Basic Graphic today, the journey towards such a future may already have begun. It may start with a book, a question, a school competition, a science experiment, a research project, a school club or simply the decision to take learning more seriously.
Jason Antwi-Agyei’s journey began in basic school before taking him to the national NSMQ stage.
His achievement is a reminder that where you start does not determine how far you can go.
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