LOCAL TEACHERS LEARN HOW TO USE CHESS AS A PEDAGOGICAL AID
The Bahamas Chess Federation (BCF) in Partnership with the Ministry of Education and FIDE host First Online Chess School Teacher online Seminar
Antoinette Newry from the Centre for the Deaf proudly displays her ECU Chess School
Instructor certificate.
September 5, 2019 - Fifteen teachers recently participated in an online certification course to learn how
the game of chess could be utilized as a learning tool. The Chess School Teacher Course was the final
initiative in The Bahamas Chess Federation’s (BCF’s) ‘Summer of Chess’ series. The Ministry of Education
partnered with BCF to ensure that teachers throughout The Bahamas were given the opportunity to
adapt another educational tool, chess, to enhance learning and supplement classroom teaching. Course
participants hailed from New Providence and Andros. Amoung the schools represented were the Centre
for the Deaf and the University of the Bahamas.
The Chess School Teacher Course, taught by Olympia Chess Academy and Certified European Chess
Union and FIDE, was held August 8-11 th . The course has been taught to teachers throughout Europe and
was designed to train teachers how to use chess as an educational aid. The course focuses on the
development of the mental abilities and moral understanding of students more than on winning or
competing.
Studies have shown a strong correlation between learning to play chess and academic performance.
Research has proven that students who receive chess instruction score significantly higher on all
measures of academic achievement including math, spatial analysis and non-verbal reasoning ability.
One of the essential goals of education is to teach children to think critically; students must learn to
make reasoned judgments. Chess is an excellent tool to demonstrate effective critical thinking
strategies.
Twelve (12) of the fifteen (15) participants passed the course. The Bahamas can now boast of having
ten (10) new ECU Certified Chess School Instructors and two (2) BCF Certified Chess School Instructors.
The Certificate is endorsed by the Academic Advisory Panel of the Education Commission of the ECU.
The Certificate does not confer the right to teach in schools. The Certificate is recognized by chess
federations across Europe
Antoinette Newry, a teacher at the Center for the Deaf and participant of the Chess School Teacher
Course shared excitedly:- “I am hoping to use the knowledge I have received at The Chess School
Teacher Course to continue to grow and develop the chess program at the Center for the Deaf . I believe
the students can benefit socially and mentally while improving their logical & reasoning skills, problem
solving situations and optimizing memory. But overall I just want them to have FUN while playing."
“I would like to congratulate the newly certified chess school instructors,” said Elton Joseph, President,
Bahamas Chess Federation. He added: - “Teachers are paramount to student achievement. BCF is
happy to partner with the Ministry of Education to equip teachers with a supplemental teaching and
learning tool.”
Certified Chess School Instructors
Sharee Woodside-Wallace
Carlene Woods
Ketley Brown
Rickishia Coleby
Chuck R. Smith
Antionette Newry
Juffure Azania Collie-Russell
Polina Karelina
Daijah Johnson
Rhonda Kemp
Pamela Philadelphia
Yolande Samuels-Cole
