FIDE’s Chess in Education Commission (EDU) has announced an exciting training schedule for late 2026, introducing a variety of online and in-person courses for lecturers and teachers. These courses, running from October through December, are designed to enhance the implementation of chess in educational settings.
Overview of the Preparation Programs
The Preparation of Lecturers (PoL) program is tailored for professionals who train teachers. Successfully completing this program leads to the prestigious FIDE titles of Lead School Instructor (LSI) and Senior Lead Instructor (SLI). This program equips lecturers with the necessary skills to effectively teach chess methodologies and strategies.
On the other hand, the Preparation of Teachers (PoT) program is focused on preparing educators to incorporate chess into their curriculum. This course spans three days (15 hours) and emphasizes classroom-ready pedagogy, digital tools, and practical methods to use chess as an educational resource. Participants who complete the PoT program will earn the FIDE School Instructor (SI) title.
Graduates who earn the SI title will gain access to an extensive package of materials and partner platforms that enhance their teaching capabilities. This package includes:
- Six months of premium access for participants and their students on ChessKid
- Six months of access to Notationary
- Six months of access to Chesslang with unlimited student accounts
- Lifetime access to Opening Master Premium Chess Databases, featuring more than 9.6 million official games
- The Chesspertise platform for database searches, analysis, training, and coaching
- The publication Chess Curriculum: A Teacher’s Guide
- The report From First Move to National Policy: The 2026 FIDE Global Chess in Schools Survey, covering 100 countries across five continents
- The book A Journey Across the 64 Squares: A History of Chess for Young Learners
Here are the announced course dates for October–December 2026:
- October 23–25: 4th Arabic PoT online
- October 30–November 1: 8th French PoT online
- November 20–22: 43rd PoT online for the FIDE School Instructor (SI) title
- November 27–29: 13th PoL online for the FIDE Lead School Instructor (LSI) title
- December 20–24: 4th French PoT in person in Lomé, Togo
This comprehensive approach not only benefits educators but also fosters a deeper understanding of chess among students, enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The integration of chess into education continues to gain momentum, making these training programs crucial for the future of educational methodologies.