Chess in schools now a reality

By Errol Tiwari On In Chess with Errol |
Chess players of yesteryear! Overseas-based Guyanese Christopher Shervington (left) and Andrew Walker (right), flank Rai Sharma. Walker was a former junior champion of Guyana, and Shervington was a tournament director and senior administrative official of the Guyana Chess Federation.
Chess players of yesteryear! Overseas-based Guyanese Christopher Shervington (left) and Andrew Walker (right), flank Rai Sharma. Walker was a former junior champion of Guyana, and Shervington was a tournament director and senior administrative official of the Guyana Chess Federation.

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.