BEIJING, July 23 -- China has named 24,126 primary and middle schools across the country specialist football schools to spearhead youth football development, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said Tuesday.

The schools are required to offer at least one football class each week and encourage their students to participate in football training and competitions, said Wang Dengfeng, an official with the MOE, at a press conference.

China aims to have 50,000 schools specializing in youth football by the end of 2025, said Wang, adding the ministry will take measures to realize the goal, including building more school football fields, training football coaches and providing extra funding and policy support.

Moreover, 135 counties nationwide have been picked to operate pilot school football projects, and 47 football training camps built in an effort to promote the sport among young people, said the ministry.

The authorities also issued a guideline for teaching football and a syllabus for football courses in primary, middle and high schools. Football teaching videos have been made and will be offered to schools across the country.