Parents, Experts Seek Chess As Part Of School Curricula

Some parents and experts have called on the government to introduce the game, Chess into the National educational curriculum as the game is seen as a valuable educational tool.

This, according to them, is because chess is about decoding and analysis, thinking strategically, and foreseeing the consequences would improve comprehension and social interaction.

Speaking at a chess clinic recently organised by Lekoyi Empowerment Initiative in Lagos, coach Ola Olawiyi said chess might be the perfect vehicle for teaching children.

He said it is about protecting kings, capturing queens and stealing rooks, but about quadrants and coordinates, lines, angles, weighing the options and making decisions.

Olawiyi noted that chess is becoming a part of global curricula and as such Nigerian must consider introducing the game into the National curriculum.

 “Through this game, kids learn to be strategic in their actions, school and ways of life”,  Olawiyi added.

A member of the trustees of the Lekoyi Academy, Titi Masha said  chess helps kids “develop their rational, creative and logical thinking to collaborate differently using cognitive skills to understand what the next person is about to do.”
Also, Ben Langat, a parent, and chess enthusiast, handed out the medals to participating children, said it encouraged kids to embrace the game.