China has promoted the use of computer-assisted teaching in more than 1,000 primary schools, an official with the Ministry of Education (MOE) said at the opening of a national seminar on educational software for elementary grades.

Tang Ling, an official of the country's middle and primary school computer education research center, said that from 1996 on, MOE and the Wemay Science and Technology Development Corp.Ltd. have developed teaching software for nine-year compulsory education and software series for mathematics education in primary schools.

She also noted that most Chinese middle and primary school students are required to know how to operate computers as well as used computers for help with lessons.

Vice Education Minister Lu Fuyuan pointed out that China's primary school students react to new methods "passively."

"Teachers should help students find an interesting way to study, and computer teaching assistance is the first step toward that goal," noted Lu. (Xinhua)