[Pupils at Winka Academy have been introduced to scholarly chess. The school has incorporated the sport in their learning as a tool to improve their concentration in class.] (File)
When Winka Academy administration introduced Chess in their learning curriculum, they did not anticipate to realize the major improvement in the children’s performance.
Two and half years down the line, the school is reaping big from having Chess as part of their learning culture.
Located in Nairobi’s South C area and with a population of less than 200 pupils, the school has changed the face of learning in the country.
According to Ernest Otieno, the school’s headmaster, the improvement in their general performance is tremendous, contributing greatly to their overall improvement in class work.
“Our children have grown a lot. Like in last year’s KCSE we had a mini-score of 82 in English and a 74 in Maths, something that has not been there. We are doing well and the children feel motivated,” notes Otieno.
The programme was introduced in September 2014, after Lawrence Kagambi, a former national chess player approached the director of the school and explained the benefits of using chess as an educational tool.
The school then took the idea and implemented it, introducing the game as a way of improving their learning experience.
Unlike other schools where Chess is a part-time game for leisure, at Winka, it is taught like any other subject and is allocated time on the timetable.
The game is normally played in the morning before the children start their normal lessons, and this, according to Otieno is strategic in some way.
“Chess is a mental game, it helps the students settle well and generally sets them ready for their lessons. That is why we prefer to have it before the normal lessons,” he adds.
The pupils have embraced the sport and want to play their way to top levels.
Most of them have their own chess boards, and after the three sessions a week in school, they have time to play with friends and family at home.
“Playing Chess makes the classwork easier. When you play Chess, it builds some neurons in your head, and the more neurons you have, the easier you think and it helps in what you are doing in your class work,” says nine-year-old Kylin Kahoro.
Alvin Kinuthia, a standard seven pupil feels the introduction of the game has played a big role in helping him improve in class work, and specifically in mathematics.
“It is easier nowadays to listen and concentrate in class, (playing Chess) increases our knowledge and helps to even participate in class. The fact that it is the first thing we do in the morning before we start our other lessons helps a lot as well,” he adds.
Apart from learning, the game has built on the pupils’ discipline and helps them build a social life.
The pupils have participated in numerous competition and won countless trophies and certificates, with most of them indicating that they would love to pursue it professionally.
“I have participated in different tournaments and won different trophies both within the school and out there. I take it as part of my learning but I would like to be a professional player and take part in international tournaments,” says Janice Soimo.
Laying a good foundation for children in their early learning years is key to their general development and growth.
With this in mind, the school intends to roll out the game to pupils in kindergarten, to ensure they also learn the basics at a tender age.
Other schools are slowly playing catch up and implementing the same, but Winka will go down as the pioneers of the all-important learning project.