Teachers enjoy a game of chess
Chess can improve your child’s mathematics.
SECUNDA – The Moves for Life organisation hosted the Supreme Chess Event last year at a local restaurant and honoured teachers from various schools.
The Supreme Chess Event is a teachers chess tournament where 60 teachers from 10 schools in the community take part in a cross cultural chess tournament.
It was the first time that this tournament was hosted in the region and teachers had to hand in lesson plans to explain maths to pupils through chess.
Moves for Life wants to make a world class citizen of each child, to facilitate a change in South Africa and to give children hope of a great future by implementing chess in schools.
According to Ms Amanda Fourie, general manager of Moves for Life, chess will improve the pupil’s mathematics, science and problem solving skills.
“This vision can only be reached by constant commitment of the teachers,” said Ms Fourie.
“The teachers’ role in the chess programme is to present the mini chess lessons weekly in school hours as a subject to the pupils to strengthen mathematics, science and life skills.”
It helps teachers to explain mathematics to struggling children.
According to Ms Fourie, some schools improved by 20 to 34 per cent since they have begun with the chess programme.
This initiative forms part of Sasol’s public-private sustainable development objectives which sees Sasol investing in Mpumalanga to enhance the quality of life for all stakeholders.
The programme aims at promoting talent security for Sasol operations by improving the general conditions around important community issues such as education, health and wellness, community infrastructure and safety and security.
Laerskool Oranjegloed Primary School was the best overall teachers chess team and the best in their group.
Laerskool Kruinpark finished second and Laerskool Secunda third.
The Isibanisesizwe School finished fourth and was the best in their group and won a trophy.
Shapeve School finished fifth, Maphala Gulube School sixth and also won a trophy for being the best in their group, Osizweni Development Centre finished seventh, Zamohuhle School finished eighth and Tholukwazi School and Lifalethu School shared the ninth place.
Mr Velaphi Gumbi, general manager at Osizweni Educational and Development Centre, handed over the prizes.
