YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS: For the first time “Chess at School” international conference has launched in Yerevan with participation of 180 delegates from 30 countries Armenpress reports. According to Armenian Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan, for Armenia the chess is the part of the national pride and if previously it was only a sport, beginning from 2011 it has become a compulsory subject at school.

“Armenia is the first country that has included the chess in the curriculum as a compulsory subject. The Armenian practice is exclusive and from the very beginning we have created a new, competitive program, which we are ready to share with the world. For the first time Armenia can propose to the world the best educational practice. “Chess at School” project has become one of the educational brands of Armenia,” said Armen Ashotyan, adding that the chess highly contributes to development of leadership in children, strategic way of thinking, improves the logic, develops new capacities.

“We do not claim that all pupils become world and European champions, though we would not be against. Our goal is to improve children’s academic perceptions and advance in other subjects through the chess.

Armenia is the first country in the world where the chess is taught in secondary schools. The chess subject has been included in curriculums of secondary schools of Armenia from 2011.