A pawn moves one square at a time, yet every move demands thought and planning.
Educators believe those same habits can shape young minds, which is why chess is finding an unlikely home in primary school classrooms across southern Malawi.
That belief inspired Uyanga Malawi Chess to conduct a research project in 20 primary schools across Blantyre Rural, Blantyre Urban, Chiradzulu and Thyolo education districts between January and June this year.
The study sought to establish how chess can unlock learners’ educational potential while developing skills that extend beyond the classroom.
Twenty teachers from 20 schools underwent ten weeks of chess training before introducing the game to learners and conducting research in their respective schools.
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Susan Namangale, Country Director for Dadaz Chess Malawi, said the participating teachers did more than learn how to play chess.
“They introduced the game to primary school learners and helped us understand its potential as a learning tool,” she said.
Namangale said the organisation views chess as more than a competitive sport, describing it as a tool for social change, educational improvement, better decision-making, effective planning, improved performance and prison rehabilitation.
The research project concluded on June 29 with a chess tournament for the participating teachers at Jacaranda School for Orphans in Chigumula, Blantyre.
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Namangale said the event was organised to recognise the teachers’ commitment throughout the project and their contribution to the study.
Innocent Thakiwa of Thunga Primary School in Thyolo emerged champion after scoring 4.5 points to claim the gold medal.
Kissinger Kabuluzi of Mtonda Primary School finished second with four points to receive the silver medal, while Mcmolland Nkhata of Sigelege Primary School also scored four points to take the bronze medal.
The project was implemented with support from the Impact Research Centre after receiving approval from the Ministry of Education. The Southern Region Chess League provided technical support.
Funding came through a partnership between Dadaz Chess Academy, an educational and social initiative that empowers young people, vulnerable communities and adults through chess, and Uyanga Byambaa, a PhD candidate in the Department of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States.
Byambaa funded the project to gather data for her doctoral research on the educational impact of chess.
Although the findings of the research have yet to be released, the project has already highlighted growing interest in using chess as an educational tool in Malawi.
Supporters believe the game’s greatest value lies not in producing champions but in helping children develop critical thinking, patience, discipline and sound judgement that can benefit them throughout their lives.
