The Headmaster of St. Peter’s Senior High School, Matthias Kudiabor says Ghanaians should not underestimate the academic prowess of lesser-known second cycles schools in the country.

According to him, opposition from critics spurred his school to emerge winners of this year’s National Science and Maths Quiz competition.

He said although the beginning was gloomy, they were confident of lifting the trophy.

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“I believed in my boys even before they contested the competition and I knew what they could do. Yes, tensions were high but they really gave off their best. Sometimes from what we hear on air, people assume that we are underdogs.

“But one thing they don’t know is that all these criticisms and sayings that we are underdogs helped us to reach where we are now and made us winners,” he told Captain Smart on Adom FM’s Morning Show “Dwaso Nsem” Friday.

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This year’s contest ended with St. Peter’s SHS winning with 45 points, with West Africa SHS and Adisadel College placing second and third with 44 and 39 points, respectively.

But the headmaster who is still overwhelmed by their win expressed gratitude to God and their teachers for the successful outcome of the competition.

For emerging tops, St Peter’s SHS was rewarded with a cash prize of GH¢40,000 from the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) and the Ghana Education Service (GES).

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Their teachers also received GH¢15,000 with the three contestants being presented with a cash prize of GH¢15,000 each and certificates of participation.