ECU Chess in Education Ambassador – Romania

The European Chess Union has launched the ECU Chess in Education Partnership with National Chess Federations to help promote chess as an educational tool in schools and institutions across Europe and beyond, strengthening the connection amongst National Federations and the broader educational community.

ECU EDU’s goal is to increase the visibility of the National Chess in Education initiatives through our dedicated online platforms to create opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking and collaboration to inspire each other.

As part of this initiative, the ECU Chess in Education Ambassadors will play a key role in supporting the ECU Education Commission’s mission to promote Chess in Education (CiE), empowering chess educators and supporting CiE initiatives.

What inspired your involvement in Chess in Education? 
From a very young age, I was drawn to the educational side of chess. That passion led me to study pedagogy, especially to connect it to chess instruction. During my studies, I began developing a methodology that would eventually form the foundation of my work. I later joined the Romanian Chess Federation’s Educational Commission to further contribute to national initiatives in this area.

What is your background in Chess and in Education?
I am a former chess player who transitioned into coaching and project management in the field of educational chess. I hold academic qualifications in both education and chess methodology. I have been actively involved in developing pedagogical approaches that integrate chess into the learning process and have dedicated my professional journey to supporting young learners through the game.

Chess in Education in Your Country

1. Does your National Chess Federation have an active Education Commission?	Yes.
2. How is chess currently integrated into your country’s education system?	Romania runs a nationwide program called Education Through Chess, which offers chess as an optional subject in schools across the country. We have a growing network of after-school chess clubs and extracurricular programs that reach thousands of students each year.
3. Is there government, institutional or National Chess Federation support for Chess in Education?	Yes. The Romanian Chess Federation collaborates directly with the Ministry of Education to implement and support educational chess initiatives across the country.
4. What age groups or school levels are most involved in chess activities in schools?	The primary focus is on Primary School students, ages 6 to 11.
5. Are there particular regions, schools or cities with standout CiE initiatives?	Our program is truly national in scope. We are proud to have active participation from schools and teachers in every region of the country.

Programs & Pedagogy

6. What are the key Chess in Education programs or projects currently running in your country?	The flagship initiative is the National Program Education Through Chess, supported by the Ministry of Education and the Romanian Chess Federation.
7. Do schoolteachers and chess tutors follow any special curriculum for Chess in Education? What materials, tools or platforms are commonly used in these programs?	We use materials from the national Romanian chess course, materials from the ECU Education Commission, Erasmus projects, LogiqBoard for the mini-games and ChessKid for the chess lessons.
8. Are there any training or certification programs for schoolteachers and chess tutors related to CiE in your country?	Yes. We offer a specialised course for active primary school teachers. This program is accredited and organised by the Ministry of Education (through CCD Ialomița) in collaboration with the Romanian Chess Federation. It includes 50 hours of instruction and grants 12 professional credits upon completion. The course is free, optional and available to any certified schoolteacher. Interested educators can reach out to us at educatie@frsah.ro
9. Are any of these programs and training organised or supported by the National Chess Federation?	Yes, the training is supported and promoted by the Romanian Chess Federation in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.
10. Are schoolteachers or chess tutors required to have specific qualifications, training, or certification, either by the education system or the National Chess Federation, to be eligible to teach chess in schools, whether as part of the curriculum or as an extracurricular activity?	Yes. In order to teach chess within the official school system, schoolteachers must hold formal certification approved by the Ministry of Education. This ensures a consistent pedagogical standard across the country. It is mandatory to prepare specific documentation to offer one hour of educational chess, but our team works closely with teachers to support them throughout this process. Any teacher is welcome to contact us at education@frsah.ro or join one of our preparatory webinars. It’s important to note that the process is not very difficult, as the option is already recognised by the Ministry of Education. The documentation only needs to be approved by the school where the teacher is employed.

Impact & Evaluation

11. How do you evaluate or measure the effectiveness of your CiE programs?	We evaluate impact using a range of tools: tracking the number of active teachers and schools enrolled in the program, monitoring student and teacher participation on platforms like ChessKid, collecting feedback through forms and periodic meetings, publishing success stories and photos from school activities on our official Facebook page. Teachers are encouraged to share materials with us at pr@frsah.ro for publication and community recognition.
12. Are there any studies or evidence showing the impact of CiE in your country?	While no formal academic studies have been conducted yet, we have substantial supporting evidence through official documentation, enrollment statistics, and consistent teacher engagement.
13. Can you share a success story or example of impact from a student or school?	We regularly publish stories and reflections from participating teachers on our Facebook page. showcasing the creativity and enthusiasm of schools nationwide. These stories highlight how chess enriches classroom experiences and develops critical thinking skills.

Vision & International Cooperation

14. What challenges do you face in expanding Chess in Education, and what solutions are you exploring?	The biggest challenge we face is securing consistent funding to scale and sustain our programs. To address this, we are actively seeking partnerships with private sponsors and supporters interested in educational innovation.
15. How do you see collaboration among CIE Ambassadors enhancing your national work?	International collaboration is incredibly valuable. Sharing experiences, resources, and best practices with other CIE Ambassadors allows us to continuously improve our methodology and explore innovative solutions that we can adapt to our national context. I welcome any potential collaboration. If you are interested, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
16. Are there any cultural or educational factors that shape how chess is taught in your country?	Yes. Romania has a strong tradition of academic rigour, and chess is highly regarded for its intellectual value. As a result, we emphasise structured, curriculum-aligned approaches that link chess to cognitive development, discipline, and personal growth. This cultural appreciation for learning makes educational chess a natural fit in our school system.

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Thank you for your contribution to the European Chess Union’s Chess in Education mission.
Together, we build a smarter and more strategic future for all learners across Europe and beyond.
We cannot wait to share more Chess in Education news and development from Romania.