The Rev. Father Wieggers Catholic School at Nsawam has emerged the overall winner for this years’ Eastern Regional Qualifiers of the “Brain Battle” National *Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Quiz Championship.
The competition which took place on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 was among nine Catholic Schools in the region.
It saw four battles with three schools participating in each round.
The competition for Catholic Basic Schools was organised by the Cocktail Media, a non-governmental organisation and the Catholic Education Unit.
The first battle was between Mount Mary Demonstration at Adjikpo, the St. Anthony School at Nkawkaw and the St. Agatha Girls at Akim Swedru.
At the end of the first round, St. Anthony won with 49 points against St. Agatha Girls with 19 points and Mount Mary with 3 points.
Next competing Schools were Orange Stars at Mampong Akwapim, Our Lady of Fatima at Odumase and St. Dominic at Adweso.
At the end of the rounds, Orange Stars won with 36 points with Our Lady of Fatima and St. Dominic going home with 25 and 26 points respectively.
The last groups of competing Schools were St. John Bosco and Madonna, both at Koforidua and Rev. Fr. Wieggers at Nsawam. St. John Bosco lost the battle with 23.5 points while Madonna also lost with 30points to Rev. Fr. Wieggers who took home 86 points.
The three winnings schools from each group made up of St. Anthony, Orange Stars and Fr. Weggers School battled for supremacy at the finals stage.
After a fierce contest, Orange Stars emerged 3rd runner ups with 31 points while St. Anthony took the 2nd position slot with 40.5 points with Fr. Weggers School emerging champions with 49 points.
Mrs. Bondzie Henietta, English teacher of Orange Stars School in an interview with this reporter said, they were winners of last two years’ quiz and were hoping to win this years’ contest too.
Mr. Ofosu Clement, Maths and Science teacher from Madonna School said since it was the first time of taking part in the contest, they would go back and prepare well for next year.
Masters Longdon Fiifi Regunald, Braisnah Rafiu and Boamah E. Edward, all form 3 students who represented Fr. Wieggers school were full of joy as they thanked God for winning the quiz anticipating to emerge winners at the national level too.
For his part, Mr. Kpabi Michael, Assistant Headmaster of the Fr. Wieggers School said they had prepared well for the contest leading to emerging as the Regional Champions.
Mr. Jude Adjare, the Eastern Regional Manager of Catholic Schools told this reporter that, “this programme started last two years but it could not come on last year because of COVID-19.”
“The aim is to prepare the children well for the BECE examination and for them to develop a love for Science and Maths,” he said.
“Our main challenge is how to get money to run this programme. We are therefore asking individuals and institutions to come to our aid,” he added.
Mr. Samuel Owusu-Boateng , the CEO of Cocktail Media said, “our children today are occupied with social media and entertainment that, many of them do not learn so to since how both pupils and teachers from all the schools have contributed, it is a good sign.”
“As mission schools, we are not only looking at the performances in class but we also want to develop their moral and their Spiritual up-bringing” he added.
