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02nd
March 2010
CHESS CHECKS
INTO SCHOOLS
Anthony De Beauville
It
is growing at an unbelievable pace and may well
appear to be the only game in the last year
to have attracted so much attention within the
school system in St.Lucia. The National Community
Foundation (NCF) and the Ministry of Education
is currently on an all time high in ensuring
the game of Chess gets it rightful place on
the school curriculum by 2012 at the least.
A brief eye catching ceremony was held in the
conference room of the Ministry of Education
on the Waterfront to hand over Chess playing
equipment to 15 primary and secondary schools
on the island. In attendance were the Deputy
Permanent Secretary (DPS) in the Ministry of
Education Brenda Yorke, NCF Director Juliana
Alfred, Principals, teachers and students from
the various schools.
First on the podium to address the gathering
was Brenda Yorke DPS in the Ministry of Education
who said, “Chess is a game of tactical
strategy that requires skill, lots of patience,
commitment and continuous practice; it’s
an exciting game and can work as an instrument
for improving one’s way of life, and can
also be played outside the school curriculum.”
“We are starting you off within the school
system at an early age and we believe from a
Ministry stand point it is a good thing. Everyone
present looks very excited about learning to
play Chess, and for the participating schools
it is a very good gesture. So far, I understand
that the game helps you, the participants, to
broaden your scope. It is not just the academic
aspect but it is another curriculum activity
that will help you as a total person.”
She noted.
Juliana Alfred NCF Director, the lady behind
the scenes took time out to say a few encouraging
words to the young and aspiring chess players
present and in so doing thanked the DPS and
the Ministry of Education for coming onboard
in full support of the Chess programme and is
happy that the Ministry has agreed to assist
the NCF in expanding the game to more schools
on the island.
The last time the NCF hosted a tournament 18
schools participated and have already registered
with chess clubs on the island. The NCF Director
further went to point out that at their last
training session in January of this year that
was held at the Castries City Hall they attracted
11 new schools, and that said a whole lot about
the interest that is building within the school
system.
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With her usual smile and sounding
pretty confident, Alfred said, “NCF
mandate is to ensure by 2012 that a chess
programme will be in place at every school
on the island and this is not an impossible
task. Our part is to provide the schools with
the resources and the training that is required,
and also encourage them to take part in tournaments
organised by NCF.”
In 2009 the school tournament was won by St.Mary’s
College, while the previous year it was won
by the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School.
Alfred further went on to say, “The
NCF gives you the opportunity not just to
train but take part in competitions. Presently
NCF and the Ministry of Education are working
on a District Championship, the more you play
the better you become so you can be District
Champions, for your school.”
The recipients on the day were Babonneau,
Balata, Monchy, Bexon, Gros Islet, La Guerre,
Vieux Fort, R.C.Boys Primary, Dame Pearlette
Louisy, Laborie Girls, Lady Golden Opportunity
Centre, Odsan Combined, Vieux Fort Special
Education, and Ciceron Secondary.
Recently as part of the NCF’s objective
of expanding the game of chess the NCF also
donated a number of playing materials to several
schools on the island and further went on
to organize a Chess Training week facilitated
by the United States Chess Federation consultant,
Jerry Nash. The week long training session
was targeted towards schools, the public and
private sector. This Chess in School Programme
was designed with the following objectives;
to develop critical thinking skills, build
self-esteem, engender discipline, foster positive
social skills, promote academic achievement
and empower children to succeed.
Interestingly, the NCF is a philanthropic,
nonprofit organization which functions primarily
as a grant making institution. The NCF has
been able to sustain its support to vulnerable
persons through partnerships with the private
and public sector.
Discuss
Story
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