Dana Reizniece: Treat chess as part of an education policy, not an extracurricular activity

March 22, 2026 - 08:50

At the Chess in Education Summit, a compelling case was made to fundamentally reposition chess within school systems worldwide. Dana Reizniece, drawing on her experience as a former government minister, argued that for chess to be widely adopted, advocates must frame it not as a mere game or extracurricular activity, but as a strategic pedagogical tool that solves problems education ministries already face.

Reizniece emphasized speaking to policymakers in their own language, aligning chess with core public policy goals like improving educational quality, bridging social divides, and supporting teacher effectiveness. She highlighted chess as a low-cost, scalable method to strengthen foundational skills such as concentration, logical reasoning, and problem-solving. Crucially, she presented it as "teacher support, not replacement or overloading"—a flexible resource that can be integrated across subjects without overburdening strained educational systems.

The argument extended beyond academics to encompass student well-being and social-emotional learning. Psychologists Fernando Moreno and José Francisco “Pep” Suárez supported this view, detailing how chess serves as a powerful metaphor for life skills. They use the game to help children, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, discuss emotions, regulate impulses, and understand consequences. Concepts like strategic sacrifice teach long-term planning, while the structured rules foster discipline.

Both experts distinguished sharply between competitive chess and "educational chess," championing the latter as a universal language for developing critical thinking, resilience, and empathy. The consensus from the summit is clear: for chess to realize its full potential, it must be systematically integrated into education policy as a versatile tool for holistic development, not sidelined as a simple pastime.