Toledo, Ohio (AP) -- The biggest hurdle for Ohio schools trying to meet a growing demand for Chinese classes is finding someone qualified to teach the language.

Twenty school districts around the state this year will turn to a Chinese-Government-Sponsored program that offers american schools a native chinese teacher for three years.

The schools only need to provide housing and transportation. Districts that took part last year included Benjamin Logan, Chillicothe, Parma and Shaker Heights.

More schools are adding Chinese classes as they see the country becoming a dominant force in the global marketplace. Employees with Chinese language skills are in high demand.

The Ohio Department of Education says the number of Ohio schools offering Mandarin Chinese tripled last year from 777 to 2,287.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)