FIDE announces Chess School Awards to foster excellence

Thousands of schools already have robust chess programs worthy of recognition, acknowledged FIDE, while many others require a stepping stone to “begin or increase their level of involvement.” The Awards hope to help achieve both these scenarios, with an emphasis on building community spirit.

Winning institutes will be listed on the FIDE Chess in Education website to help form a wider global network, sharing resources and best practices for chess training. These schools will also be able to display FIDE’s certification on their website and publications, with the National Chess Federations of their respective countries notified of the award.

FIDE Chess School Awards: Who should apply?

Jerry Nash teaches students chess. Nash is Chairman, FIDE Chess in Education Commission. (Image: fide.com)

Chess is a sign of prestige for many schools, especially if they are able to spot and nurture prodigies early. In India, institutes like Chennai’s Velammal Vidyalaya (“India’s chess factory”) have gained repute for shaping the careers of Grandmasters like R Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh and R Vaishali. Such schools will likely be the first to earn FIDE’s seal of approval, but up-and-coming programs that “demonstrate high social awareness” and strong outreach can also make the cut.

Open to primary and secondary schools, FIDE’s Chess School Award will be granted in one of three tiers: gold, silver, or bronze, depending on the grade received by a school. The grading criteria will assess the school’s use of chess as an educational tool, accessibility for students of varied skill levels and backgrounds, the variety of chess activities conducted by the institution, qualifications of its chess educators, and sustainability measures.

Each year will feature two application cycles. For the current cycle, schools have until March 31 to apply through the FIDE Education website, accompanied by a registration fee of €150 (approximately INR 13,500). Winners will be announced in June. The next application cycle will be from July to September, with winners announced in December. Forms are currently being accepted in English, Spanish, Russian, and German.

The application consists of ten questions, with zero to three points awarded for each assessment criterion. Out of the maximum score of 30, schools scoring 13-19 points will be awarded the bronze tier, 20-24 the silver tier, and 25 or above points the gold tier certification. These awards will be valid for three calendar years. For more information, you can see edu.fide.com