Elsie Effah Kaufmann defends NSMQ against rote learning claims

Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, the mistress of the National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ), has defended the competition against criticisms that it is overly theoretical and relies too heavily on rote learning.

In response to these claims, Prof. Kaufmann has called for a scientific study to analyze the types of questions used in the competition and to evaluate its broader impact on students. She noted that such a study, which would compare current questions to those used when the program began in 2006, has not yet been conducted.

Prof. Kaufmann highlighted that former contestants have reported gaining essential life skills through the program, including discipline, teamwork, analytical thinking, and quick decision-making, suggesting the competition offers benefits beyond simple memorization.