Chess is becoming part of education in Catalonia

Barcelona, Spain – In Catalonia, chess is no longer just a game played after school; in public schools, it has become a powerful educational tool that supports learning, strengthens inclusion, and contributes to children’s personal development. Following the 2012 European Parliament resolution recognizing chess as a valuable educational instrument, the process in the region gained momentum with teacher training programs starting in 2014. With new methods developed after 2016, chess became directly connected not only to what children learn, but also to how they learn.

This transformation did not happen by accident. It is built on years of planning, teachers’ professional development, the contribution of trainers, and the dedicated work of education advocates who believe in the pedagogical value of chess. In particular, at two public primary schools serving students aged 3 to 12 — Escola Jaume Balmes and Escola Ramon y Cajal — chess now stands out as a concrete practice supporting the curriculum. The goal is not merely to teach children how the pieces move, but to strengthen skills such as attention, planning, problem-solving, patience, and decision-making in the classroom environment.

The example of Escola Jaume Balmes shows how effective this approach can be. Around 280 students aged 5 to 12 use chess as part of their daily learning process. Here, chess is not presented as a separate subject; instead, it serves as a tool for teaching different areas, from mathematics and geography to language development and general knowledge. Teachers receive specific training on how to use the chessboard and game dynamics within their own disciplines. For example, some squares contain images of cities or countries; when a student lands on one of those squares, they are expected to answer a question correctly. A correct answer allows progress in the game and earns points, while students simultaneously develop analysis, memory, and associative thinking skills.

One of the most striking aspects of this model is how chess serves the idea of inclusive education. At the board, every student has space to think, to experiment, and to learn through mistakes. This makes it easier for children with different learning speeds and needs to take part in the same activity. As education experts have long emphasized, chess also supports social and emotional skills such as self-control, waiting one’s turn, respecting the opponent, and anticipating consequences. The Catalan experience strongly demonstrates that chess is not only a sport or a mind game; when used with the right methodology, it can become one of the effective components of modern education.