An online education site opened Sunday with extensive e-learning material for students from primary schools to senior high schools.

It is expected to make things easier for students with fewer notes taken in class.

The site has been made possible through the cooperation of the Ministry of Education, China Telecom, the municipal education bureau and an IT company owned by Qinghua University.

The site has the first computer-assisted learning (CAL) software in the country so students can prepare or review their lessons without taking notes.

"As multi-media material such as movies, music and 3-D pictures are used in the CAL software, we expect better learning achievements after the site was launched," said a spokesman for the municipal education bureau.

Channel director Wang Ruizhong believes online learning could help bring the students' daily lives, their families and studies together, stimulating their interest in learning.

Students have access to further online tutorials by senior teachers selected from top municipal public schools through the Web camera for one yuan (US$0.12) per hour.

An examination question bank and various Internet games and BBS catering for teenagers are also provided on the site.

(Shenzhen Daily September 21, 2004)