Nearly 70 per cent of children use computers only for games and only 29 per cent use software for schoolwork, a survey showed yesterday.
It questioned 500 parents and 500 pupils from five primary schools who joined a pilot scheme in the last school year to try out a school-based computer awareness and learning programme.
The poll showed 90 per cent of students said they had experience using computers. But 68 per cent said they used only games-related programmes.
Seventy-four per cent admitted they wanted to learn more about computers so they could play more games.
The figures were contained in a learning kit released yesterday by the Education Department.
The survey also found most parents supported the promotion of information technology in schools.