The government is moving to include seven sports—including football, cricket, and chess—into the national curriculum. Theoretical and practical lessons on these sports will be integrated into textbooks from Class 4 (primary school) through to the higher secondary level.
The directive was issued on Wednesday (March 25) through a letter from the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education, addressed to the Chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).
Seven Key Sporting Disciplines
According to the letter, the following seven events are to be incorporated into the curriculum:
- Football
- Cricket
- Chess
- Karate or Volleyball
- Badminton
- Athletics
- Swimming
Policy Background
The decision follows the first meeting of a committee formed by the Prime Minister's Office, dedicated to identifying and developing playgrounds in urban and rural areas across the country. That meeting, held on March 14, was chaired by the Minister of State for Youth and Sports.
The committee recommended that providing structured instruction in these sports starting from the fourth grade is essential for student development.
"Under the circumstances, instructions have been given to take the necessary steps to include the seven events sent by the Ministry of Youth and Sports into the curriculum," the letter stated.
