A Ministry of Education official told the 1st Seminar of China's Colleges and Universities on Educating and Financing Students on Monday that a program enabling poorer students to earn through work to support their studies played an increasingly important role.

"The 'Work-study Program' is no longer a sideline for China's colleges and universities, but a new channel for students to participate in society and improve their abilities, especially for impoverished students," said Feng Gang, vice director of the ministry's Social Science Research & Ideological and Political Work Department.

More than 120 scholars and experts from about 70 institutions attended the seminar at East China Normal University in Shanghai to discuss measures to help and finance poorer college students.

Feng said colleges should not only provide the money impoverished students need to complete their studies, but also pay more attention to their personal development.

He said that 'work-study' could be valuable in students' learning how to use knowledge gained from their courses, as well as easing their financial and psychological burdens.

Feng said it was part of a wider system that also uses loans, scholarships, grants and provisions of free books and other materials to support students who need extra help.

In 1999, the number of students qualifying for financial and other support -- those from families living below local government-set minimum standards -- reached 1,000,000 for the first time. This figure rose to 1, 420,000 in 2000, and 2,700,000 this year, 20 percent of all college students.

Many colleges and universities at the seminar proposed to set up a standing committee to conduct work to provide suggestions for policies on student financing.

(org.cn by Wang Ke November 10, 2005)