The heat is officially on in the Volta Region as the 2025 edition of the National Science and Maths Quiz regional qualifiers picked up steam on Tuesday, July 22. The second day of contests served drama, excitement, and fierce academic battles as students competed with everything on the line, a chance to make it to the national stage.

In Contest 4, St. Paul’s SHS, Denu made their intentions clear from the start, dominating the round with an impressive 57 points. Their performance left no doubt, brushing aside Agotime SHS (25 points) and Battor SHS (22 points). It was a clear-cut victory that showed just how prepared St. Paul’s is for this year’s competition.

Contest 5 brought a nail-biting showdown between Tsito SHS and St. Catherine Girls’ SHS. The two schools were neck and neck all through, but Tsito managed to edge it with 38 points, narrowly beating St. Catherine Girls’ who ended with 36 points. Peki SHS couldn’t quite catch up and finished with 17 points, but the fight between the top two had everyone at the edge of their seats.

Hohoe E.P. SHS completely stole the spotlight in Contest 6 with a commanding performance. They racked up 65 points, comfortably ahead of Battor SHS (28 points) and Akatsi SHS (25 points). It was a statement win that firmly places Hohoe E.P. as one of the top teams to watch from the region.

Closing out the day was Contest 7, where Awudome SHS secured their spot with a solid 48 points. St. Catherine Girls’ SHS, making their second appearance of the day, once again showed resilience, scoring 41 points but narrowly missing out on qualification. Keta Business College managed 18 points in a round that showcased Awudome’s depth and determination.

From nail-biting finishes to dominant wins, Day 2 of the Volta Regional Qualifiers had it all. The atmosphere was electric, the competition fierce, and the passion unmatched. As more schools prepare to take their turn, one thing is certain, the road to the NSMQ national stage is not for the faint-hearted.

Stay tuned as the battle for brilliance continues.

Prempeh College has emerged as the champions of the 2025 Luv FM High School Debate, defeating Kumasi High School in a thrilling grand finale that captivated audiences across the Ashanti Region and beyond.

Debating the motion, “Politicians are more corrupt than civil servants,” both schools delivered compelling arguments, showcasing deep research, critical thinking, and persuasive speaking.

Ultimately, Prempeh College won the day with a final score of 231 points (50.22%), narrowly edging past Kumasi High School, who secured 229 points (49.78%). The victory came by majority decision, with 2 out of 3 judges awarding the contest to Prempeh College.

Organized by Luv FM, a member of the Multimedia Group Limited, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES), the debate provided a powerful platform for young intellectuals to engage on pressing societal issues. This year’s motion stirred thought-provoking discussion around ethics, governance, and public service in Ghana.

The final was a display of high-level debating, with both schools receiving commendation for their eloquence, structure, and analytical depth. However, Prempeh College’s refined delivery and ability to effectively rebut key points proved decisive in the eyes of the judges.

Their victory adds to their distinguished record in academic and extracurricular excellence, further cementing their reputation as a powerhouse in student leadership and discourse.

The 2025 Luv FM High School Debate received support from several corporate sponsors, media partners, and educational institutions, underscoring the importance of youth development and civic education in Ghana.

The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), Dr. Saajida Shiraz, has confirmed that SLTF recently disbursed second-semester loans to 19,703 students across 135 public and private institutions.

Speaking at the launch of the No Fee Stress initiative, Dr. Shiraz highlighted that this marks the first time in four years the fund has paid second-semester loans.

She also revealed that first-semester loans have already been disbursed to 38,440 students across 145 institutions this academic year.

“The Student Loan Trust Fund Board this year has disbursed first-semester loans to a total of 38,440 students across 145 public and private institutions,” Dr. Shiraz stated.

“For the first time in four years, we have begun paying second-semester loans,” she continued. “Just three days ago, 19,703 students from 135 institutions received their loans.”

Acknowledging past challenges, Dr. Shiraz said, “The days when loans were approved but not disbursed, and the complacency that hindered the fund’s core mandate, are now behind us.” She confidently affirmed, “The challenges we faced in meeting our core mandate are a thing of the past.”

Dr. Shiraz also expressed profound appreciation to the GET Fund Administrator for their unwavering support. “I appreciate the GET Fund Administrator for privatizing the tertiary education reset agenda and committing the necessary funds to help SLTF meet its commitments.”

Established to expand access to higher education, the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) provides crucial financial support to students in both public and private institutions by offering loans that cover tuition fees and other educational expenses.

Over the years, SLTF has played a vital role in enabling thousands of students to afford tertiary education, thereby contributing significantly to national development through investment in human capital.

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