National curriculum: Economist John Adams calls for chess to be taught in Australian schools
By political reporter Anna Henderson
Could a humble board game improve school performance, play a role in driving Australia’s economy and even help prisoners in rehab?
That is the question being investigated by economist and former Liberal advisor John Adams, who is heading a push to make chess a part of the national curriculum.
Mr Adams has previously worked as an economics advisor to Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos.
He has now been appointed as government relations director with the Australian Chess Federation and over the next year plans to conduct a research project drawing on a large international body of work into the positive impacts of the game on brain development.
“The Gonski report clearly outlined that the performance of Australian school children, based on the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment, has been in decline since 2000 across mathematics, science and reading,” he said.
“The research project will investigate whether chess in schools can assist in arresting the decline in student performance and enhance educational outcomes.”
Mr Adams said chess is already part of the curriculum in some countries and he points to anecdotal evidence within Australia that the game is an effective teaching tool.
“In some Australian primary and secondary schools, chess is being taught by full or part-time chess teachers as part of the school’s curriculum or co-curriculum,” he said.
“I have been amazed at the teachers’ stories, particularly the outcomes they say have been achieved from chess instruction and the transformational effects it has had on the children.”
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