Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has urged school children to play chess referring to it as one education tool that can strengthen a child's mind.
"We want to convince parents and teachers that chess is one of the most powerful educational tools available to strengthen and enhance a child's mind," said President Zuma at the gala dinner of Moves for Life Chess Programme on Sunday.
Zuma - an avid chess player - said chess was a serious sport contrary to popular belief and is a game that young people should be encouraged to play.
"It is an important game in many respects, the main benefit being that it contributes to the development of strategic thinking as well as concentration, analytical skills and problem solving. These are traits that are important for school going children," said Zuma.
He said the game had stood the test of time adding that even new technology-driven games had not killed the game of chess.
"No amount of video games can teach a child the same level of patience, strategic thinking, concentration, analytical skills and the attention to detail that they would gain from this timeless intellectual game."
He said government and the private sector needed to work together to create a culture where chess can be used as both an educational and motivational tool for children.
"We will play our part as government. Both the Departments of Basic Education as well as Sports and Recreation are involved and already working to promote the game," said the President at the launch of the programme.
