Yuan Guiren, vice-minister of Education, made the announcement at an international symposium on the reform of maths courses and related teaching in the 21st century which was opened in the southwestern Chinese municipality of Chongqing several days ago.

"The new round of maths courses and teaching reform is a key task," said Yuan.

He argued the reform was necessary to bring maths education into the information era and into line with the country's educational campaign to improve the quality of students in primary and junior middle schools.

A great number of middle school students had won awards at international maths contests in recent years, said Yuan.

Yuan also suggested normal colleges of higher learning play a role in guiding reforms of fundamental education and train more qualified teachers for primary and middle schools effectively, including fundamental educational course reform in the research of educational sciences at these colleges.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2002)