In 2017, a new teaching and methodological kit for teaching chess was introduced in the primary classes of more than 250 schools in Moscow, Kaluga, Lipetsk and Belgorod regions, the Republics of Sakha and Chuvashia.
They will introduce mandatory chess lessons in 75 Moscow schools more. Now the Chess in schools project is being implemented in 323 Moscow schools. Classes will be held as the third hour of physical education in primary classes.
"We re-trained 1200 teachers. From the very beginning we decided that chess should be taught not by professional chess players, but by those who understand children. Now the parents are happy and so are the children," said vice-president of the Moscow Chess Federation Nikita Kim.
The President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said that the children's performance grew by 40% due to the introduction of chess into the educational programme in Kalmykia.
Chess lessons as a part of the Chess in Schools programme will help the student to go beyond the framework of the general educational process, reveal his creative and intellectual potential, and also contribute to the overall harmonious development of the individual.