KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

 Mr. Armen Ashotyan mentioned in his speech that chess is a part of national pride for Armenia, and if in the past it had only sports meaning, from 2011 onwards it has become a mandatory course studied at schools, thus, acquiring educational significance.

“Armenia is the first country where “Chess” is included in mandatory schools’ curriculum. Armenian experience in this matter is particular, as we have created a new academic programme from zero which we are ready to share with the rest of the World. For the first time Armenia is ready to offer its best academic practice through a conference; in fact, the introduction of this course at schools will also stimulate development of leadership. We are not claiming for everybody to become champions even though we wouldn’t mind it, but our goal is to develop children’s advancement through other courses as well,” the Minister of ES stated.

What is more, Mr. Armen Ashotyan was glad to mention that the Armenian programme is also in the centre of attention of international society “Speaking in chess language, Armenia has started and is winning the programme”.

In his turn, the Chairmen of the World Chess Federation Kirsan Iljumzhinov noticed that the Armenian programme of teaching chess at schools has already been translated into different languages after which expressed his hope that soon the programme would be much more widespread.

 “Several months ago, when I was in Mexico, they introduced me with a state programme and mentioned that similar to Armenian practice chess will be included into the mandatory schools’ curriculum. The same picture was in Paraguay, Mongolia, Thailand, and in other countries. The programme started to disseminate thanks to your country; here everybody is breathing with chess; it seems to be in your blood.

Armenia is the only country that became the triple Olympic champion; it is not available even for the biggest countries”, the Chairman of the World Chess Federation added. 

During the International Conference headed “Chess at Schools” the ASPU Rector Rouben Mirzakhanyan granted the Chairman of the World Chess Federation Kirsan Iljumzhinov the title of “Honorary Doctor” of the Armenian State Pedagogical University.

Likewise, the ASPU Rector considered the execution of decision of the Armenian largest national pedagogical institution as the greatest credit and observed that the pageantry taking place within the framework of the conference is indeed symbolic. 

“Highly appreciating the work implemented by the Chairman of the World Chess Federation, I should mention that dissemination of chess in educational and academic institutions is to a great extent conditioned by his personal activities”.

In his turn, Kirsan Iljumzhinov expressed acknowledgments for such a great honour and promised that his following visit would be marked with a lecture for the ASPU lecturers and student.

Last but not least, thanking the chess devotees for all the undertaken activities, the Chairman of the World Chess Federation noticed that chess is everywhere – in politics, in public life, in sport, even in economy. It is not just a type of sport, it is a merging of sport, science and culture which will help us to live in a more beautiful way.