Canada is the latest in a string of countries to adopt chess as a curriculum subject. This time for year 12 students!

After 20 years of research, proposals, paperwork and jumping through hoops Arnie Nermo (B.Ed.) Robert Bateman Sec. School, Abbotsford, BC and Luke Campbell (Language and Technology Department Head at Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary) have finally had their chess course approved by the School Board and the Ministry of Education.

Now any school can use their template and experience to introduce chess as part of their high-school curriculum.

While a number of primary schools in Australia use chess as part of their curriculum very few do so in high school. According to Arnie Nermo

Chess is much more than a high school frill subject. The competition is keen, the thinking hard and the rewards…well, they’re ones that will last a lifetime.

Does chess really Build Mental Muscles? Well the school trustees, school board and Ministry of Education seem to think so.

Chess is known to assist cognitive development for students in four areas– logic, memory, awareness/analysis, and pattern recognition (Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal WGCTA). It is evident that chess is more than just a game.

And it seems that the softer (social) benefits which we have discovered in schools in Australia are not unique. This is happening all over the world!

As to the question of whether Chess has a viable place in high-school curriculum, extensive research has shown it to be an activity where even the weakest academic students can match their wits with the strongest and beam with success. It is a proven and valuable self-esteem builder!

Congratulations to these teachers who believed in chess and for their hard work and perseverance. And we look forward to seeing more countries embrace this brilliant educational tool.

Arnie and Luke have very kindly shared their experiences here:

A Short History on How to Start a High School Chess Course

Chess 12 BAA course outline

Arnie Nermo can be contacted directly on arnie_nermo@sd34.bc.ca