Principal lauds benefits of chess in schools

Gabriel Cumbermac, principal of the Arima Boys RC School has lauded the benefits of chess to the nation’s youth. He did so on Saturday when he launched the Chess in Schools Programme organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Foundation. Cumbermac’s assertions were aligned with those of Chess Foundation Chairman Edison Raphael who noted the positive effects such a programme had on New York City, US public schools.

Already the Chess in Schools initiative has recieved the support of Emile Elias, Managing- Director of Emile Elias Construction Limited and the Ministry of Education among others. And Cumbermac called for the continued support of school administrators citing the fact that it will immediately benefit their charges and the society in the very near future. Elias, an avid chessist, expressed great enthusiasm in introducing a “thinking sport” into schools and said it can go along way toward aiding its participants in achieving academic greatness. Chess sets and training manuals which will partner with the knowledge already gained by teachers at a September 18 training session, were distributed to representatives of the 17 schools already registered for the programme.

They are Arima Boys RC, Arima, New Government, Arima Boys Government Primary, Arima West Government, Arima Senior Comprehensive School, Arima, Girl RC, Arima Government Secondary, Hillview College, Holy Cross College, Christian’s Primary Academy, Arima Girls Government Primary, Malabar RC, El Dorado Secondary, Richmond Street Boys, Lower Morvant Government School, Rosary Boys RC; and Ortoire RC.