By Daniel Bampoe
Seven years after its introduction, the Kingsley Maths and Science Quiz (KMSQ) has begun producing one of its most remarkable success stories, with 20 former contestants graduating as medical doctors from Cuba and preparing to return to Ghana to begin their professional careers.
The milestone was announced by the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Kingsley Agyemang, during the grand finale of the 7th Kingsley Maths and Science Quiz (KMSQ) and the 6th Kingsley Spelling Challenge (KSC) held at Abuakwa State College in Kyebi, in the Eastern Region.
Addressing students, teachers, education officials and parents, Dr. Agyemang described the achievement as proof that sustained investment in education can transform communities and create future professionals capable of driving national development.
He said the educational interventions, introduced seven years ago, have moved beyond competitions to become platforms that nurture academic excellence and shape the future of young people in Abuakwa South.
“Today, we are not simply celebrating another quiz competition; we are celebrating impact,” he declared.
According to the MP, one of the most significant outcomes of the initiative is the graduation of 20 former KMSQ contestants who travelled to Cuba about six years ago to study medicine and have now successfully completed their medical training.
“I am happy to report that just yesterday, far away in Cuba, 20 students who participated in the Kingsley Maths and Science Quiz graduated as medical doctors and are returning home to serve Ghana. This is what we call nurturing the seeds of tomorrow,” he said to loud applause.
Dr. Kingsley Agyemang explained that the success of the initiative demonstrates how educational opportunities, when made accessible to every child regardless of social or economic background, can change lives and communities.
He noted that many of the students who have excelled through the programme come from rural and low-income communities, proving that talent exists everywhere when given the right platform.
The MP revealed that since the inception of the Kingsley Quizzes, almost every contestant who has progressed from the preliminary stages to the finals has gone on to perform excellently in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and secure admission into some of the leading senior high schools.
He added that the competitions have transformed the academic culture within the municipality, making learning more competitive, interactive and attractive among pupils and students.
“Before the introduction of these quizzes, learning was not as competitive and interactive. Today, you walk through every corner of this municipality and you hear students discussing mathematics, science and spelling. That is the transformation we wanted,” he stated.
According to Dr. Agyemang, the impact of the programme is equally evident at the senior high school level.
He disclosed that students who participated in the Kingsley Maths and Science Quiz have gone on to represent their schools in national academic competitions, including the prestigious National Science and Maths Quiz.
He cited Ofori Panin Senior High School as an example, explaining that contestants from the Kingsley Quiz have consistently represented the school in national competitions.
The MP further revealed that for the first time in the history of Ofori Panin Senior High School, students who had participated in the Kingsley Quiz obtained Grade A in all science subjects during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Similarly, he noted that contestants from the programme also made history at Abuakwa State College by helping the school qualify for the quarter-finals of the National Science and Maths Quiz for the first time since the school’s establishment.
Beyond individual success stories, Dr. Agyemang said the municipality has recorded its best-ever BECE performance since the introduction of the educational interventions.
According to him, students from communities such as Nkronso, Bunsu and Apapam—areas traditionally regarded as educationally disadvantaged—have excelled in the examinations, with many obtaining outstanding grades across several subjects.
“We are gradually changing the narrative. We are building a critical mass of intellectuals who will take this municipality to the next level,” he remarked.
The MP reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to education, describing it as the most effective tool for reducing inequality and creating opportunities for young people.
“It is only on the table of education that the poor man’s child and the rich man’s child sit together equally, and most of the time it is the poor who excel,” he observed.
He encouraged the current contestants to believe in their potential, assuring them that they have even greater opportunities than previous generations.
“I was once like you, but you will become better than me because I never had these interventions. You cannot remain where I am—you must surpass me,” he told the students.
Dr. Agyemang also commended teachers, parents and education officials for supporting the initiative, describing education as a shared responsibility that requires collaboration between families, schools and government.
The Municipal Director of Education, Comfort Appiah in her welcome address, described the Kingsley Quizzes as one of the municipality’s most successful educational interventions.
She explained that the 2026 competition attracted 67 primary schools for the Kingsley Spelling Challenge and 62 junior high schools for the Kingsley Maths and Science Quiz from both public and private institutions.
Following several stages of competition—including preliminaries, second round, quarter-finals and semi-finals—the finalists for the Maths and Science Quiz were KPCE Demonstration JHS, Apedwa Presby JHS and Kibi Rock of Ages JHS, while KPCE Demonstration Primary, Asiakwa R/C Primary and Kibi Ebenezer Presby Primary qualified for the finals of the Spelling Challenge.
The Municipal Director praised Dr. Agyemang for conceiving and funding the initiative, describing it as a cornerstone of academic excellence that has strengthened collaboration between schools while inspiring critical thinking, confidence and teamwork among learners.
She noted that the competitions have become more than academic contests, evolving into platforms for identifying and nurturing future doctors, scientists, engineers, educators and national leaders.
