Monday, January 30 the International scientific conference “Chess in the Educational System” was held in the hall of the Russian State Social University Academic Council.
Rector of the Russian State Social University, Doctor of Science Natalya Pochinok, first Vice-President of the Moscow Chess Federation Nikita Kim and the oldest grandmaster Yury Averbakh opened the conference. Director of the RSSU International Center of the chess education Artem Akhmetov became a moderator of the event.
Natalya Pochinok was the first to take the floor. She stressed that nowadays the problem of the chess education is very complicated, she also said that a positive result of the universal education is a merit of all the people present at the event. This conference will contribute into a new level of the chess education promotion in Russia. RSSU Rector also mentioned the last year progress: “In 2017 our methodic work allowed covering many spheres of educational process. This methodic work helps in attracting a significant number of teachers. Especially those people, who love chess.” In conclusion Pochinok thanked all the present people for their participation in the conference.
Then Director of FIDE office in Russia Berik Balgabaev read out a welcoming letter from FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
In his speech Yury Averbakh told about interesting events in the chess world, and also marked a significant role of chess in the development of intellect as at a young age so as at an old one.
“First of all, I would like to mark that the Chess in School project were not possible without support of many people,” – Nikita Kim said. “For example, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov contributed much into the chess development. For more than 20 years he has been promoting the ideas of the universal chess education as in Russia, so as worldwide. Now similar projects are developing in such countries as Armenia, Azerbaijan, many European Union countries. In 2015 the Moscow Chess Federation took the decision to launch the project in the capital of our country, bearing in mind its high importance for our kids’ development. The Federation received huge support from the side of the Department of Education of Moscow and personally from its Head Isaak Kalina, and also from many other governmental bodies. Our main task is forming of an intellectual generation. For example, now chess is included into school programs of one third part of Moscow schools (251). It means these kids learn to think systematically, to take decisions and bear responsibility for these decisions. And we sincerely hope that in ten years one third of Moscow citizens will first think and then do that will promote into qualitative change of our life,” – Nikita Kim concluded.
This year the geography of speakers of the conference has significantly enlarged. Representatives of Kazakhstan and several regions of Russia, such as Rostov region, Sakhalin, Belgorod region, Republic of Tatarstan were speaking of their projects in the sphere of chess education.
Matters connected with the necessity of chess education development for the achievement of sports results and development of children’s personality and adaptation of old people in society were discussed at the round table.