Chess body wants to take sport to schools

RWANDA CHESS FEDERATION president Kevin Ganza says the body is keen on introducing the sport in schools countrywide. 

Tuesday, September 02, 2014
Kevin Ganza

RWANDA CHESS FEDERATION president Kevin Ganza says the body is keen on introducing the sport in schools countrywide. 

He has called on school administrators to help the federation in this effort.

"Chess improves the level of concentration among pupils and boosts problem-solving skills, mathematics and reading comprehension among others, and this is what our children need,” he said.

He added that Chess is a good sport, especially when one begins it at a young age.

"It is not just about the king, queen and knights, it is about thinking strategically, anticipating consequences, weighing options and making decisions. It is a very important game,” he told Times Sport.

"We need chess and we want it grow in Rwanda. It’s therefore very important that we start it in schools right away from primary schools, to secondary school and through to the Universities,’’ he added.

University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology, UR-College of Arts and Social Sciences, Agahozo Shalom Youth Village, Ecole Francaise and College Doctrina Vitae are some of the learning institutions that have tried to introduce and support chess.