![\"Gary](\"http:\/\/sem.lamtech.sl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Gary-Kasparov.jpg\")
<\/a>Gary Kasparov<\/p><\/div>\n
Gary believes chess can help prepare children for the challenge of mathematics by teaching them about logic, concentration, and spatial concepts. \u201cThe best age to introduce chess is grades 1-3,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s like opening gates for education for kids. It sharpens their minds. All the tests show the dramatic increase both in maths and language. For me, chess is a tool; it\u2019s like pre-education.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tshepang agrees. \u201cChess actually gave me that mental capacity to be able to concentrate more, to be able to take on lots of work and know how to handle it. In the game of chess, you must have strategies. Even when it comes to my exams, I must have a strategy. Apart from all the school stuff, it also teaches you discipline. It\u2019s always one move at a time and you have to wait for your opponent to move back.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, while Mamokgethi believes introducing chess to schools could help, she says it\u2019s \u201cnot going to solve our problems.\u201d She highlights the importance of children learning maths in their first language, as well as the key role teachers\u2019 play.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Mamokgethi Phakeng<\/p><\/div>\n
She denies that boys are naturally better at maths than girls. \u201cBoys have always been given more opportunities than girls, so is this about mathematics or about patriarchy? That idea that boys are better at maths than girls, it\u2019s not consistent \u2013 you don\u2019t get it all the time, so you can\u2019t generalize.\u201d<\/p>\n
Similarly, while Gary says that there are far more male chess champions than women, he adds, \u201cWhen you look at the results, there\u2019s still a big gap, but it\u2019s not as big as 50 years ago. 50 years ago, Bobby Fischer was bragging that he could give an extra piece to any women in the world and still beat them. I\u2019m not sure he was correct but naturally today when we look for best world players they wouldn\u2019t dream about giving up a pawn and being so confident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mamokgethi says the perception that mathematics is difficult is largely because the subject is \u201cvery connected; it\u2019s hierarchical\u2026 Let\u2019s just say you miss the understanding of fractions, then algebra becomes difficult. Because it\u2019s linked, it requires you to understand every step of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gary believes chess is just one way to gamify education. \u201cWe need to introduce more gaming elements,\u201d he says. \u201cEducation looks difficult and boring, so we have to create a different image for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s episode of\u00a0South2North<\/i>\u00a0premieres at 19:30 GMT on Friday, 27 September 2013 and also screens on Saturday at 14h30, Sunday 04h30 and Monday 08h30.<\/p>\n
For more information, visit\u00a0http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/programmes\/south2north\/<\/a>, where all episodes are available to watch online.<\/p>\n You can also tweet your questions, comments and opinions to @AJSouth2North or find\u00a0South2North<\/i>\u00a0on Facebook:\u00a0http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/South-2-North\/255419671252120<\/a>.<\/p>\n