Kericho,
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
KNA by Kibe Mburu/ Sharon Chepkurui
Private Schools in Kericho County want schools management to introduce indoor games to students to assist learners develop academic aptitudes including critical thinking.
This is according to the Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) Chair Samuel Rugut who said indoor games like Chess, Scrabble, Rubic cubes, and Puzzles should be introduced as classroom games for pupils in grades 3 to 5.
Mr Rugut led a delegation of the KPSA on a benchmarking session at Fig Tree Academy in Kericho town where over a hundred students can easily solve complex puzzles using indoor gaming activities such as Rubik’s Cube, Chess, Scrabble, Abacus, among others.
They were hailed Fig Tree Academy as one of the schools that has competed in indoor games up to the national level impacting positively on students and boosting their cognitive abilities.
“We have discovered that Chess is a brainstorming activity that stimulates the mind and encourages creative problem-solving. Each game presents a unique set of circumstances, requiring players to think critically, anticipate their opponent’s moves, and adapt their strategies. By playing chess it requires intense focus, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the game,” said Mr. Rugut Rugut said it was in their plan as KEPSEA to introduce the games to private schools as it goes hand in hand with the Competency-Based Curriculum system (CBC), urging teachers to go for indoor games training to teach the students in their schools.
He noted that games such as Scrabble enabled students to improve their vocabulary and critical thinking which is a crucial life skill.
Meanwhile, two pupils from Fig Tree Academy who recently represented Kericho in the Regional Chess Qualifiers tournament in Nakuru qualified for the National Chess tournament.
Last Mile Cubing Organization Founder Mr. Samuel Kamau who was also present said hundreds of teachers were currently undergoing indoor gaming training mostly during the weekends, for games such as Rubik’s cube, Abacus, Chess, and Scrabble.
“We intend to train more teachers from different schools so that indoor gaming activities can be taught in most schools within Kericho County. The benefits of gaming activities are numerous including better academic performance. Those interested can check our activities on www.lastmilecubing.org” added Kamau.
Courtesy; KNA
