The purpose of FIDE President's visit was to introduce chess into the school curriculum as a tool to improve the level of education and discipline of students.
Mr. Ilyumzhinov noted that the International Chess Federation was founded in Paris with only 24 members in 1924 and today it joins 188 countries that hold more than 100 thousand tournaments annually. It is reported that there are currently 600 million chess players world-wide and his project, aimed at increase the number of chess players up to one billion by 2020, is called "one billion chess players -- one billion smart people ".
Kirsan, being widely known in chess circles, spoke about the benefits of teaching chess in school, which improves the level of education and discipline of students. The participants were informed that the main purpose of FIDE and Botswana Chess Federation is to include chess in the curriculum and teach it as a subject.
Both the Minister and the Permanent Secretary were quite satisfied with the visit and the proposals received, given that chess does not require significant expenditures like other sports and it can be played everywhere and at any time.
The Minister and her Permanent Secretary informed those present that 755 primary schools currently exist in Botswana and it would be a good idea if chess would be played in all these schools. The Chess Federation of the country was instructed to draw up a corresponding proposal and present it to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
Assistant to FIDE President Berik Balgabaev invited Minister of Education to visit Chess Museum in Russia and personally see how chess benefits the students.
The president of the BCF Motokomedi Tabano reported that FIDE provides the significant support to chess in Botswana. Thus, there is now a permanent camp for the youth team that will travel to Harare (Zimbabwe) to participate in the upcoming African Individual Chess Championships 2017 and that team is coached by Nikolay Chadaev. Tabano noted that the presence of the grandmaster coach was made possible by FIDE, and that this is the first time that a grandmaster trains a youth chess team.
19.08.2017
Botswana Mass Media reports on the meeting of President of FIDE with Minister of Education
FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with Minister of Education of Botswana, the Honorable Unity Dow.
The meeting was also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Grace Muzila, Assistant to the Minister Charles Mothabane, Charge d'affaires of the Embassy of the Russian Federation Alexander Anoshkin, President of Botswana Chess Federation Mothokomedi Thabano, Vice President of BSF Tiroyamodimo Roger, President of the Sports Association of Primary Schools Busang Sengweni.
