Soccer to play key role in schools

To help overcome inadequate instruction and training facilities, the Ministry of Education will organize a group of experts to revise the current physical education curriculum for primary and secondary schools, giving soccer a prominent role.

The game will be emphasized in PE courses - from textbooks for theoretical knowledge to the playing field, an official said.

"The lack of facilities for students to play soccer on campus has emerged as a major obstacle, while the shortage of qualified physical education teachers and teaching materials seems to be another concern," said Wang Dengfeng, director of the PE, Health and Art Department at the Ministry of Education, at a youth soccer forum on Sunday.