Chess has officially entered the school curriculum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, marking an important milestone for chess education and bringing the game’s educational benefits to a new generation. The initiative was developed through the efforts of Khanzad Chess Club, in cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Education and with the support of the Iraqi Chess Federation. By introducing chess into schools, the project aims to use the game not only as a sport but also as an educational tool that encourages critical thinking, concentration, creativity, discipline, patience, and problem-solving.
The initiative is the result of cooperation among educational authorities, chess institutions, and chess professionals. Khanzad Chess Club played a pioneering role in developing the project and preparing the educational materials. Under the leadership of its President, Dr. Dlzar Hamasalih Qadir, the club prepared the specialized chess curriculum and educational content for the “Chess for Schools” project, helping transform the idea of introducing chess into schools into a structured educational program for students and teachers.
A major step came with the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Education’s decision to include chess in the educational program for students in Grades 7, 8, and 9. As part of the initiative, a dedicated 15-page section on chess was included in the official Physical Education Teacher’s Guide, providing teachers with material to support the program’s implementation.
Before the project began in schools, attention was given to preparing the teachers who would introduce chess to their students. A one-week training course was organized for 150 Physical Education teachers from Erbil. Hosted by Khanzad Chess Club, the course was conducted by the club’s international trainers in coordination with the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Education. The participating teachers received certificates upon completing the course.
The Iraqi Chess Federation has also played an important supporting role in the initiative. Its continued encouragement and cooperation have contributed to the development and promotion of chess education and activities in Iraq, supporting the broader effort to make chess more accessible to young people.
With the curriculum prepared, teachers trained, and institutional support in place, the “Chess for Schools” project is now being implemented in schools across the Kurdistan Region. Students are being introduced to chess as part of their educational experience, learning the principles of the game while developing intellectual and personal skills that can extend beyond the chessboard.
For the students taking part, the project offers more than an introduction to the rules of chess. The game encourages them to analyze situations, consider different possibilities, make thoughtful decisions, and learn the value of patience and responsibility – skills that can be useful both in the classroom and in everyday life.
The cooperation among the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Education, Khanzad Chess Club, and the Iraqi Chess Federation provides an example of how chess organizations and educational authorities can work together to bring chess into the classroom. It also creates a foundation for the continued development of chess in schools throughout the Kurdistan Region.
The introduction of chess into the school curriculum is a significant achievement for the Kurdistan Region and an encouraging development for chess education in Iraq. It shows how a long-term educational vision, supported by cooperation between government authorities and chess organizations, can bring the benefits of chess to a wider generation of students.
As chessboards find their place in classrooms, they can also open new paths in the minds of young learners. With every move, students learn to think ahead, consider their choices, learn from mistakes, and approach challenges with patience and confidence. In this way, chess can become more than a game taught at school – it can become a lasting source of knowledge, creativity, and inspiration for the next generation.