Sports schools are regarded as key contributors in the growth of China's sports industry. (Photo : Getty Images)
China's Ministry of Education urged sports schools to foster cultural education among the athletes, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
The ministry also called for the further integration of education into sports, the article added.
According to the education ministry, the quality of athletes is greatly affected by the quality of cultural education they receive at sports institutions.
The report also noted that the schools' ability to maintain sustainable development is equally crucial for the athletes.
The ministry-issued report was based on a series of inspections held in late 2015 in select sports schools in nine of China's cities and provinces.
As stated in the report, the ministry "found out that a number of the schools inspected did not spend enough money in cultural education."
Additionally, equipment for education and the hardware's conditions were found to be outdated.
Education ministry officials moreover pointed out that a number of its local counterparts gave little attention to the schools' cultural education aspect. The report noted that some were not even eligible for the country's nine-year compulsory education.
The ministry emphasized that this condition may result in lack of proactivity and enthusiasm among the sports schools' students.
Statistics from the Ministry of Education show that such institutions have significant roles in the development of the local sports industry.
Data states that sports schools account for the nurturing of a large chunk of Chinese athletes who were able to grab awards in regional and international tournaments. The ministry stressed that the figure could reach as high as 95 percent.
Currently, China is home to a total of 2,183 sports schools catering to all levels. Of this number, 1,717 are institutions dedicated for children, Xinhua said.
