BCA Expands Chess Integration In Schools
The Bermuda Chess Association [BCA], in partnership with the Department of Education, has reached a significant new milestone in its mission to integrate chess into the national curriculum.
A spokesperson said, “Following a second successful ‘Chess in Education: Preparation of Teachers’ seminar, held March 25-27, the island is celebrating a new cohort of FIDE-certified School Instructors [SI] and the launch of a prestigious scholarship pathway into International Business.
“Empowering Educators: Local Sustainability
“Supported by critical funding from the RenaissanceRe Educational Fund, this year’s seminar saw a dedicated cohort of educators undergo intensive training. Twelve participants successfully completed the rigorous international examination to become FIDE-certified School Instructors.
“In a major leap for local sustainability, Daisha Payne [Dalton E. Tucker Primary] and Wolde Place [Harrington Sound Parish School] have earned the elite Senior Lead Instructor [SLI] designation from FIDE after a year of dedicated preparation. This achievement allows Bermuda to host two certification seminars annually led by local experts, moving the island toward full autonomy in teacher training.
“The Three Pillars of Student Development
“The program continues to focus on three core skill areas designed to equip Bermudian students for the modern world:
- 21st Century Skills: Emphasizing critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration.
- Life Skills: Strengthening impulse control, focus, perseverance, patience, empathy, and the ability to foresee consequences.
- Academic Skills: Utilizing the chessboard as a tactical tool to improve literacy and mathematics.
“From the Classroom to the World Stage
“The momentum of the initiative is now reaching the global stage. Four attendees from the inaugural Chess in Education seminar, along with two talented local schoolchildren, have been selected to represent the island at the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. Forming part of the 10-player Bermuda squad, these individuals showcase the direct link between school-based programs and international excellence.
“The Bermuda Chess Scholarship: A Path to International Business
“In a groundbreaking development for ‘student-athletes of the mind,’ the BCA has announced the Bermuda Chess Scholarship. Created in conjunction with the Bermuda College Foundation and the AXA XL Foundation, this scholarship supports students who demonstrate the high-level analytical talent required for chess.
“The fund provides financial support for students to pursue Business Administration or Actuarial Science qualifications at Bermuda College, with total funding of $10,000. Applications are now open, with the goal of creating a direct pipeline for strategic thinkers to transition from the classroom into the international business workplace.
“National Progress: Accredited Chess Schools
“Last year, several local schools made history by being officially recognized by FIDE as Accredited Chess Schools. To date, the following schools also have certified instructors on staff:
- Dalton E. Tucker Primary
- Harrington Sound Parish School
- Sandys Secondary Middle School
- East End Primary
- St. George’s Preparatory
- The Berkeley Institute
- Francis Patton Parish School [also Accredited FIDE School School]
- Mount Saint Agnes Academy
- Paget Primary
- Port Royal Primary
- Purvis Primary Parish School [also FIDE School School]
- Somerset Primary
- Somersfield Academy
- St. David’s Primary
- Warwick Academy [also Accredited FIDE School School]
- West Pembroke Primary
- Whitney Middle School
“A Holistic Impact
“Commissioner of Education Kalmar Richards has lauded the program for its cross-curricular reach. Beyond traditional academics, school counselors are now using chess to assist students with emotional regulation and decision-making, while schools are hosting ‘Chess Family Nights’ to bridge the gap between home and the classroom.
“It is planned for a third Chess in Education seminar to be hosted in Bermuda later this year.”
