Spain to teach chess in schools
Unanimous support for PSOE proposal

12 FEBRUARY, 16:03

(ANSAmed) – MADRID, FEBRUARY 12 – The education committee of the Spanish Congress on Thursday voted unanimously to ”urge the government to introduce the Chess in Schools programme in the Spanish education system in accordance with the European Parliament’s recommendations”.

The proposal had been presented by the Socialist (PSOE) party. A parliamentary report found that students who study chess have a higher level of intellectual development across a range of parameters and improve especially their maths and reading results, subjects in which Spanish students encounter the most difficulty. In defending the proposal, PSOE MP Pablo Martin noted that chess ”improves memory and strategic capacity, teaches students to make decisions under high pressure and develops concentration”. Chess, which can be practiced and taught online, has been successfully added to the school curriculum in many countries to help hyperactive and gifted students as well as those suffering from autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Down Syndrome. (ANSAmed).

Source: http://www.ansamed.info

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