The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education has implemented the teaching of chess in schools. As a start, from September, the GCF dispatched one of its directors, Shiv Nandalall, to the Valmiki College of Business and Technology, in Queenstown, Georgetown. Last month, FIDE Master and Guyanese national player Anthony Drayton began teaching chess at the Dolphin Government School, his alma mater.
Traditionally, chess was being taught at schools of excellence in Georgetown which had thriving chess clubs. Over time students learned from each other, and the ancient game was popularized, naturally, to a minimal extent. However, in quite an overwhelming and positive move, the GCF has formalized the pursuit of chess in all schools.
In doing so, it has set in motion, the path to eventually locating FIDE masters and grandmasters. In the meantime, those who do not excel at chess, will learn from the rules of the game and become better decision makers as adulthood surrounds them.
How can a game that was founded in AD 600 in India, have survived the ages? The answer is that chess changed with the times. Correspondence chess evolved. Players did not necessarily have to meet each other face to face. Now with the introduction of computers, chess has entered an era of modernity and can be found everywhere, including in the conventional classroom. The game can also be taught to students using a traditional demonstration board as depicted in the photo of Drayton at the Dolphin Government school. The GCF is introducing chess to Grades 7, 8, and 9.
