Chess As Part of the School Curriculum

Inquirer.net reports that the DepEd in a memo dated January 8 of this year, chess will form part of the curriculum of Elementary and High School students.

“Global studies have shown that chess is a game that improves individual organizational and analytical skills. Children when exposed to this game at an early age achieve academically better or even faster than those who have not been engaged in said game,” Lapus said.

“Likewise, chess is among the activities that help build memory skills, concentration, self-confidence, self-esteem and in making disciplined decisions,” he added.

“Playing chess provides opportunities to practice such values as perseverance, honesty, and sportsmanship,” Lapus said.

I have to agree with Sec. Lapus. I believe in what chess can bring to the students, i.e., self-confidence, concentration, perseverance and discipline. I just hope, and I pray hard, that this project will receive wide acceptance by school principals, administrators, teachers, and especially students. After all, it is my firm belief that it is the students themselves that determine their fate, not the teachers.

But the mere fact that the students are exposed to this mind-game this early is a welcome development.

3 Comments

chiqui January 22, 2009 Reply

how refreshing.

chiqui January 22, 2009 Reply

may ara man gani ko news nabatian nga there’s a high school in Manila that teaches its students how to understand and invest in the stockmarket. I’ve always wanted to do that.

deuts January 22, 2009 Reply

Gusto mo mag invest sa stock market su? Maybe you want to read this.

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