Indonesia
Chess as Mandatory Lesson?
Every kids of six or above in Armenia is obligated to learn chess. What are the benefits on us?
The government over there believes that this lesson will help developing Superkids’ intellectual and improve critical thinking. Armenia has many reasons to believe in chess. They treat grandmasters of several European and Latin American countries like football stars. The tournament are announced on giant banners in cities and are celebrated in huge proportions. Just like winning celebration in football crazy countries.
The country only has population of 3.2 million. Yet its chess players often beat those from big countries that house great chess players like Russia, China and US. The national team also won the gold medals of International Chess Olympic in 2006 and 2008.
The interesting part is, the position of the chairman of Armenian Chess Federation is served by the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan. And today, this chess crazy country has invested almost $ 1,5 million (£ 920,000) to teach every kids of the country chess.
It’s true that until now, there’s no solid evidence showing the benefit of making chess a mandatory lesson at school. However, there’s a study, carried out for two years in US by Dr Stuart Marguilies discovers that chess does improve score of reading tests and performance in primary school.
“Not only it gives kids ability to think better and improve focus, memory and calculation, it also teaches children to take responsibility over their actions,” said Malcom Pein, a school chief executive and chess community, which is a program to put chess to England schools.
According to Pein, another benefit of chess is that this sport is very low budget. Thereby it truly can help children in economically less fortunate regions. Pein is a fanatic supporter of chess becoming mandatory at schools and recently making a proposal to put the sport into national curriculum. He recommends chess to become regular schedule for students of grade two or third year of primary school.
English grandmaster and correspondent of Times, Raymond Keene, agrees with the effort to target children of eight years old for this chess mandatory class. Because it is the optimal age to absorb the lesson and develop the brain potential.
“If taught well on six years old children, they can be grandmasters at 12,” he enthusiastic.
Of course you are also curious for the benefits of this chess sport on us, right Superkids?
(To be continued)
NURUL L. IRFAN
SOURCE: http://www.bbc.com/
PHOTO: 123RF
