PIA Press Release
2009/01/11
Manila, Sunday, 11 January 2009
DepEd adopts chess in school curriculum
Tacloban City (January 11) — Chess will soon become a part of the school curriculum, per DepEd Memorandum No. 1 series of 2009, issued on January 8.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said that the Department of Education will adopt Chess as a strategy to promote the development of higher order thinking skills and values Grades 3 – 6 in the subject Edukasyon sa Pagpapalakas ng Katawan (Physical Education).
Chess will also be used at the secondary level as part of the Physical Education curriculum.
Furthermore, Chess will remain as a game category in the Provincial, Regional and National athletic games.
Global studies have shown that Chess is a game that improves individual organizational and analytic skills, Secretary Lapus said. Children when exposed to this game at an early age achieved academically better or even faster than those who have not been engaged in this game.
Chess is also among the activities that help build memory skills, concentration, self-confidence, self esteem, and in making disciplined divisions. Playing Chess provides opportunities to practice such values as perseverance, honesty and sportsmanship.
In order to facilitate the successful inclusion of Chess in the curriculum, Secretary Lapus has given specific directives to the DepEd Central, Regional and Division Offices.
He has directed the Division Offices to conduct mapping of Chess experts in the community to mentor teachers and children. The Division Offices have been directed to purchase chess sets using their MOOE and to provide each school with Chess sets following the three sets per class ratio.
The Divisions will also launch Project Chess with parents, local government units and non-government organizations in the community in order to generate awareness, support and appreciation of such strategy. Distribution of Chess sets will be done during the launching.
The Regions will monitor the utilization of Chess as strategy to develop higher order skills and values and provide technical assistance.
The Central Office will formulate guidelines, manual and or lesson exemplars on the use of Chess in developing higher order thinking skills and values in the elementary level and to enhance the existing practice at the secondary level.
Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/
When will the US do the same?
Well…this is a good thing…IN PRINCIPLE. But in practice, it might not be such a great idea.
Who is going to do the teaching? Overworked, underpaid (and underqualified?) public school teachers? Or chess masters who can’t teach? I can only hope that the powers that be have thought this through properly (doubt it though). Otherwise we’re looking at another boondoggle
Ambitious and commendable plan for the Philippine DepEd to enhance Philippine chess at the grass roots level.
This is one effective way to identify and develop the young Filipino chess talents.
The Philippines has long ways to go but they are on the right track.
Maybe the Philippines can regain its swagger someday and compete against China and India’s dominance in Asian chess.
BTW Scud, boondoggle is synonymous with Campodoggle.
Enough of your crab mentality and offer positive thoughts.
Well…for one thing…I sign my messages. Not like some people…
I don’t criticize for the sake of criticizing. I offer positive comments when it’s called for. My comments are what I call guarded positive comments.
For once (just once) think about what I am saying instead of just sitting there and mindlessly spewing the Pichay party line.
In principle, the idea is great. But what about implementation? It’s kind of like that legislation we have that mandates English as the medium of instruction. Who’s going to teach English? Teachers who can barely speak it themselves?
Who’s going to be teaching chess? It’s not just a matter of passing legislation and that’s it. Think a little bit.
It’s people like Anonymous that make the Philippines the sinkhole that it is. They spew idiocy like a fountain and don’t bother to sign their name.
Oh…and did you miss it? The article says three sets per class. Three sets for a class of SIXTY KIDS.
mR.Sec
when it to start ?
dicoming June?
hope it will continue
Until I’m still hopeful that this great initiative by the department to include chess in formal class instructions will be realized and be implemented although its more than a decade already since this memorandum has been published.
So, where is it now? Why not integrate it also to JHS & SHS in order too enhance their decision making…