Himachal to introduce chess in govt schools
SHIMLA: In a bid to improve cognitive skills of students at government schools in Himachal, the state government is planning to adopt Gujarat’s strategy of introducing chess in schools.
The Bharatiya Janata Party had promised in its vision document (election manifesto) to promote chess in the state schools.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur-led government has adopted the vision document as its policy document. Party manifesto had promised to introduce chess in school syllabus along with yoga and music.
State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) has prepared a proposal recommending that chess be promoted in schools from the primary-level. “There is a proposal to introduce chess in school syllabus, SCERT has already prepared the syllabus and handed over to department of elementary education,” secretary education Arun Sharma confirmed.
It has been learnt that the department of elementary education has prepared and shortlisted as many as 300 teachers who are well versed with the game and have participated in various chess championships in the past. There are 10,710 primary, 2,130 middle and 2,487 higher and senior secondary schools in the state.
“Further, the government has also proposed to introduce chess championships at the school level,” said joint director elementary education Hitesh Azad. This year chess will be the part of inter-school games. This game sharpens the concentration and the enhances the memory, joint director elementary education Hitesh Azad said. Director elementary education has also roped Himachal Pradesh State Chess Association to further train the children in the game.
Last month, State Council of Education Research and Training Solan had conducted workshops for teachers and educated them about the benefits of chess and yoga, Azad added.
Gujarat was the first state in the country to promote chess in the schools.
Gujarat government introduced chess in the schools in 2008. While Tamil Nadu became the second state to introduce chess in schools in 2011.
State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) has also recommended the schools to teach yoga in schools. It accentuated to incorporate yoga in teachers training module. It has proposed for holding inter school yoga completion so that the students adopt the ancient practice.