Holy Child School has announced its return to the NSMQ National Championship in emphatic fashion, surviving a fierce preliminary-stage battle against Anlo SHS and Nkawkaw SHS to secure a ticket to the One-Eighth Stage.After a two-year absence from the National Championship, Holy Child School wasted no time reminding the competition of its pedigree, dominating the contest at the SMS Auditorium and finishing on 67 points.But the victory was far from a walk in the park. The Stars of Anlo Land pushed Holy Child School all the way, finishing strongly on 52 points, while Nkawkaw SHS ended the contest on 35 points.The opening round immediately set the tone for a tense afternoon, with just a single point separating Holy Child School and Anlo SHS.Holy Child School opened with 25 points, Anlo SHS followed closely with 24, while Nkawkaw SHS stayed within striking distance on 21.Then came the Speed Race — and the pressure intensified. The first four questions went unanswered, with Anlo SHS making attempts but failing to convert them. When the fifth question finally fell, Holy Child School seized the opportunity and gradually took control of the round.By the end of Round Two, Holy Child School had stretched its lead to 35 points, with Anlo SHS on 26 and Nkawkaw SHS on 20.A Perfect Showdown The Problem of the Day produced one of the biggest moments of the contest. Both Holy Child School and Anlo SHS delivered perfect 10/10 scores, earning the two schools the coveted NSMQ Star Award.Holy Child School carried that momentum into the next round, moving to 45 points, while Anlo SHS reached 36 and Nkawkaw SHS 25.But Anlo SHS was not done. In the True or False Round, the Stars of Anlo Land produced a flawless performance, answering every question correctly.The perfect run earned Anlo SHS the Clean Sheet Award, injecting fresh excitement into the contest.Holy Child School, however, refused to surrender its advantage.The comeback challenge from Anlo SHS was met with another composed performance from Holy Child School, which ended the round on 58 points.Anlo SHS stood at 52, while Nkawkaw SHS had 32. With the contest heading into the final Riddle Round, the battle for supremacy was still alive.Holy Child School then delivered the final blow. The school cracked three riddles, securing the GOIL Riddle Bonanza and putting the contest beyond doubt.When the final scores flashed on the scoreboard, the two-year wait was officially over.HOLY CHILD SCHOOL — 67ANLO SHS — 52NKAWKAW SHS — 35Holy Child School’s triumphant return earns it a place in the One-Eighth Stage of the NSMQ 2026 National Championship, while Anlo SHS’s spirited challenge produced two major individual honours, the NSMQ Star Award and Clean Sheet Award.For Holy Child School, it was more than just a preliminary-stage victory. After two years away, the comeback could hardly have been louder.The 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and sponsored by the Ghana Education Service with support from Goil PLC, Prudential Life Insurance, Pepsodent, Trustur AI, Jupay Money Transfer, Lumevax, GTP, SpinCITI Laundromat, Didi Jollof, Bel Beverages, Accra College of Medicine, Coronation Insurance and Academic City University.The Broadcast on JoyNews is sponsored by: VitaMilk, Entrance University of Health Sciences and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.BROADCAST PARTNERSFrutelli, Excellence Publications and Stationery, Didi Shito, Nataraj, Virtual Security Africa, Lef Signature Limited, Sintex Tank, Door Master, New Crystal Hospital, Palm University College, Ayuda, Prospectus Ghana Limited, Family Health University and Myst Water