From 9–11 September, international experts actively involved in FIDE’s educational initiatives visited Budapest for a three-day professional program to learn about the practical application of the Chess Palace Skill Development Program and the ChessPE Movement Development Program.
The guests, who came from Morocco, Greece, The Gambia and France, were joined by Rita Atkins, Secretary of the FIDE Education Commission. The aim of the visit was to give participants an opportunity not only to learn about the programs in theory, but also to see them in real classroom settings and experience how chess can be used as a tool for developing a wide range of skills.
The three-day visit was hosted by three schools in Budapest: the Benedek Elek Unified Special Education Methodology Institute in Zugló, the Lemhényi Dezső Primary School in Budapest’s 16th District, and the Pasaréti Szabó Lőrinc Hungarian–English Bilingual Primary and Secondary School “Fenyves.”
The guests had the opportunity to see the programs in action in a variety of educational settings. Chess-based skill development was presented both as a standalone subject and integrated into mathematics, English, Hungarian language and literature classes. They also saw how the ChessPE Movement Development Program can be incorporated into a folk dance session.
At each school, the lessons were followed by a professional discussion, providing an opportunity to reflect on what participants had observed, share experiences and compare educational practices across different countries.
The three days were not only professionally enriching but also a memorable shared experience. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed their time at the schools and particularly appreciated the opportunity to see the programs in action, working directly with children and teachers. They all returned home with ideas and experiences that they can draw on in their own educational practice.
For us, these encounters also reinforced just how versatile chess can be as an educational tool and how valuable the exchange of knowledge and experience among professionals from different countries can be.
We would like to thank the leadership, teachers and students of all three host institutions for their openness, the demonstration lessons and their warm welcome!
