Checkmate at St Benedict's College

On May 18, seven-year-old pupils at St Benedict's College Primary 'A' Zurrieq were pleased to welcome Colin Pace, Malta's 2003 Chess Champion, for a simultaneous chess exhibition.

This was just two days before Mr Pace joined the Maltese delegation to represent our islands in the Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy. Mr Pace played against 31 of our young pupils who had just finished a chess beginners' course.

"You don't have to be fast, you don't have to be strong, you don't have to be seven-foot-one. You just have to be able to stop for a while and think," Mr Pace emphasised in his short keynote speech before he started his match.

Investigative learning, quality, rigour and standards are commitments of networked learning communities. The focus is on student learning, holistic education of quality that caters for the whole development of the learner. 

A positive step forward in this direction was taken by the St Benedict's College co-ordinator, Marilyn Sciortino, who supported an after-school chess programme for students and parents.

Parents were asked to join their children for the lessons which were held during March, April and May.

This "new" initiative was spearheaded by head of school Yvonne Scerri and co-ordinated by me. The chess trainer who conducted the sessions on a voluntary basis was Stephen Farrugia from the Malta Chess Federation.

The exhibition started at 5.30 p.m. with Mr Pace walking around the chess tables shaking hands with the young players and playing his first move with the white pieces. The pupils, some of whom were supported by their parents, had just enough time to deliberate their move before Mr Pace came by for his next round.

Once they played their move, Mr Pace responded immediately and moved on to the next table. Everyone enjoyed the two-hour exhibition, even though there were no winners or losers.

One of the world's most popular games, chess is a fun way to teach children how to think and solve an ever changing and diverse array of difficult problems.

With millions of possibilities in every game, players must continually face new positions and new problems. They cannot solve these using a simple formula or relying on memorised answers. Instead, they must analyse and calculate, relying on general principles and patterns along with a dose of creativity and originality - a skill that increasingly mirrors what the pupils must face in their everyday schoolwork.

St Benedict College is helping to give a voice and integrate extracurricular activities which are part and parcel of a holistic quality education.

All young chess players were given a certificate of attendance at the end of the exhibition. There were short concluding speeches followed by a reception. Networking thrives on collaboration and cooperation. The Zurrieq council sponsored the billboard that advertised the event.

It is most encouraging to note that this will not be a one-off occasion. Ms Sciortino announced that this initiative will be extended to other pupils at different levels in the college. The idea is to inculcate a healthy education for leisure across all ages.

Undoubtedly, activities like this have a positive, lasting effect on the children, the parents and the whole community. St Benedict's College is sowing the right enthusiasm and a culture of collaboration among all partner-stakeholders. This indeed augurs very well for the future of the college in particular and for Maltese education in general.