The FIDE Chess in Education Commission (EDU) has officially announced its training calendar for autumn and winter 2026, catering to lecturers and teachers of educational chess. Offering a combination of high-level online and in-person opportunities, the program focuses on broadening the use of chess as an instructional tool across classrooms worldwide.
Official Pathways to FIDE Titles
The upcoming schedule features two primary development tracks: the Preparation of Lecturers (PoL) and the Preparation of Teachers (PoT) seminars. Successful completion of the PoL course qualifies participants for the prestigious FIDE titles of Lead School Instructor (LSI) and Senior Lead Instructor (SLI). This initiative is designed primarily to train the educators who will instruct future teachers, effectively expanding the global network of certified trainers.
Meanwhile, the Preparation of Teachers (PoT) course leads to the official School Instructor (SI) title. Delivered across a 3-day (15-hour) curriculum, this module equips attendees with pedagogical methods, digital resources, and practical strategies tailored for educational chess. FIDE SI title holders also gain access to a growing repository of dedicated educational resources and partner tools.
The scheduled offerings kick off with the 4th Arabic PoT online course on October 23–25, followed by the 8th French PoT online course from October 30 to November 1, with registrations open via official FIDE portals.
Editorial assessment
FIDE's structured certification courses are critical in establishing chess as a formal pedagogical tool rather than solely a competitive sport. By offering distinct training tiers for both frontline teachers and trainer-of-trainers (SI, LSI, SLI), the Chess in Education Commission fosters standardized instructional methods and builds sustainable educational infrastructure worldwide.