BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- China will launch an online program to help teachers in middle and primary schools and kindergartens improve their online teaching ability amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, according to a newly issued circular.

The circular, jointly released by China's Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance, noted the online training program should be arranged flexibly depending on the situation of COVID-19.

The program aims to strengthen the training of teachers' online teaching methods and their ability to make use of information technology by helping them master selected online teaching platforms, said the circular.

The circular said that efforts should be ramped up to provide assistance for teachers in hard-hit areas.

In addition, the circular called for high-quality resources to focus on supporting schools in deep poverty-stricken areas.

However, any form of off-line training will be strictly prohibited across the country amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the circular stressed.

The arrangement was made to implement a national plan aiming to improve the competence of the country's teachers, especially those in the rural areas.