Chess improves discipline and self-esteem at Parkdale Primary

Chess is a two-player strategy board game which is associated with increased intelligence quotient levels, increased concentration, long-term memory and a host of improved cognitive abilities.

Parkdale Primary school educator, Esther Kaldine, introduced the game as a sporting code in 2010, gathering a two teams comprising of male and female learners at the school to compete in the Eldorado Park cluster games. Representing the U-11 and U-13 age groups, the teams competed against 23 other schools within the cluster and won gold in their first year of competition.

They also mustered gold in the D14 district games, competing against schools from Lenasia, Soweto and the Southern Suburbs. As a result, they were selected to represent the district at the Provincial Chess Championships.

The fledgling team has maintained their dominance since its inception and continued this streak this year as well. The District Competition hosted six learners from various schools and two learners from Parkdale primary School, Abigail Khumalo and Allessandro Green, were selected.

Top performing schools were chosen to represent the district at the provincial competition, and the Parkdale Primary School U-11 and U-13 teams were the top teams participating at the championships in August.

The Kings and Queens Chess Games hosted a championship recently, selecting competitors from Chess Kings throughout the Gauteng province. This organisation encourages learners from previously disadvantaged communities to participate in the game.
Abigail Khumalo represented the Region at the Queens championships in Sandton and won 2nd position while Leavandre Joel and Deltrise Campbell represented the Region at the Kings tournament in Ruimsig at the Monash University. Deltrise placed 2nd in the competition.
The learners have shown remarkable interest in the game and practise daily to fine tune their abilities.

Kaldine says, “I hope that chess will one day be part of the curriculum because the learners are very enthusiastic about excelling at chess. What I’ve noticed is that chess inculcated a culture of self-discipline and an improved self-esteem. In short, it improved their behaviour and performance in their school work. They also interact very freely with other learners at school and are self-motivated during competitions.”