Fort Wellington Secondary School benefits from Chess in Schools initiative

Oct 05, 2019 Sports

Students and teachers of the Fort Wellington Secondary School in Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice) will now have an opportunity to learn to play the game of Chess. This opportunity has been made reality through the instrumentality of the Department of Sport’s, ‘Chess-in-Schools – Grassroots Initiative’.
According to Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, the move is part of a nationwide one which aims at implementing Chess in schools, not only as an extracurricular activity but also as an educational tool.

Students being exposed the game of Chess.

Jones stated that, “Chess contributes to mental development such as critical thinking which has proven to help students academically and ultimately in life.” Jones further stated that the National Sports Commission (NSC) realised the additional value Chess can add to Guyana’s school system and as such will continue to promote this initiative nationwide.
The Sports Director added that over 100 countries worldwide promote the Chess-in-School programme. He stated that shortly, World Chess Federation (FIDE) National Instructor, Wendell Meusa will be hosting a one-week training programme for teachers and students from Byvegal, Bush Lot, Fort Wellington and Mahaicony Secondary schools.
This training exercise will run from October 7-10 for the students while training for teachers will be held on October 11. At the conclusion of the programme a one-day beginners’ tournament will be held on October 12 at Fort Wellington Secondary.
So far, the department has visited and implemented the initiative in schools from Regions 3, 6, 10 and now 5. It is expected that the two top teams will go on to compete against Berbice High School in New Amsterdam.
In 2018, the department in collaboration with the Ministry of Education conducted Part One of the Chess-in-Schools-Teachers’ Training Programme which targeted teachers from Primary and Secondary schools.
The programme was structured around the FIDE Chess-in-School initiative and followed the implementation steps of countries such as Armenia, Russia, USA, China, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados that have Chess implemented in schools as a mandatory subject or as an after-school club.
Jones revealed that his department plans to host a National Inter-Schools Chess Championship so that students can compete against each other in a healthy, clean game.

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