A new African push for chess in education

A fresh push to bring chess into classrooms across Africa took shape in Cape Town during the African Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026.The African Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 currently takes place in Cape Town. What began as a schools competition became a working forum for federations, education officials and chess leaders from the region. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and ISCF President Timur Turlov attended the event where meetings focused on teacher training, school leagues, national coordination and the role chess can play in giving more children access to structured learning opportunities. During the event, meetings were held with chess officials from several countries, including South Africa, Eswatini and Namibia. The key focus of the discussion was how chess can have a more prominent role in societies across the African continent. Chess as a tool for social development In South Africa, chess officials, national Olympic Committee representatives, and sports officials met with FIDE, highlighting the importance the country is giving to chess. Officials highlighted that Cape Town was the first p