SECUNDA – The Moves for Life organisation hosted the Supreme Chess Event recently at a local restaurant in Secunda and honoured teachers from various schools.
The Supreme Chess Event is a teachers chess tournament where 60 teachers from 10 schools in the community took part in a cross cultural chess tournament.
It was the first time that this tournament was hosted in the region and teachers had to hand in lesson plans to explain maths to pupils though chess.
Moves for Life wants to make a world class citizen of each child, to facilitate a change in South Africa and to give children hope of a great future by implementing chess in schools.
According to Ms Amanda Fourie, general manager of Moves for Life, the chess will improve the pupils’ mathematics, science and problem solving skills.
“This vision can only be reached by the constant commitment of the teachers,” said Ms Fourie.
“The teachers’ role in the chess programme is to present the mini chess lessons weekly in school hours as a subject to the pupils to strengthen mathematics, science and life skills.”
It helps teachers to explain mathematics to struggling children.
According to Ms Fourie, some schools improved by 20 to 34 per cent since they have begun with the chess programme.
This initiative forms part of Sasol’s public-private sustainable development objectives which sees Sasol investing in Mpumalanga to enhance the quality of life for all stakeholders.
The programme aims at promoting talent security for Sasol operations by improving the general conditions around important community issues such as education, health and wellness, community infrastructure and safety and security.
Maphala Primary School showed the best growth in the programme.
Ms Sone Sykes from Laerskool Kruinpark won the prize for the best lesson plan while Ms Anna Strydom from Laerskool Oranjegloed Primary School finished second and Ms Vani Els from Osizweni Training Centre came third.
The school that won the competition, was Laerskool Oranjegloed Primary School with Ms Jillian Croy, Ms Mariska Botha, Ms Lientjie Janse van Rensburg, Ms Mariska Meyer, Ms Annatjie van Wyngaardt and Ms Anna Strydom.
Laerskool Kruinpark, comprising Ms Stephanie Pretorius, Ms Vivia Postma, Ms Lida Kamfer, Ms Hanneri Mouton, Ms Jurene Kemp and Ms Soné Sykes, came second.
Laerskool Secunda finished third and their team consisted of Ms Larissa Potgieter, Ms Geraldine Barnard, Ms Carin Brandow, Ms Charmaine Harrison, Ms Welmarie Fourie and Ms Annagret Hattingh.
