The government has instructed that lessons and practical components on seven sports, including football, cricket and chess, be included in school textbooks from the primary to higher secondary level.
A letter issued on Wednesday, by the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education was sent to the chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).
According to the letter, the first meeting of a committee formed by the Prime Minister’s Office to designate and implement playgrounds in urban and rural areas was held on March 14.
The meeting was chaired by the state minister for youth and sports, and directives were given to include football, cricket, chess, karate or volleyball, badminton, athletics and swimming in the national curriculum from Grade 4.
The letter further instructed NCTB to take necessary steps to incorporate the 7 sports proposed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports into the curriculum.