Nelspruit — Rural children in Mpumalanga will burst into cyberspace on Monday to become a new generation of maths, science and technology whizz kids when 200 computers are donated to 10 impoverished schools.

The computers, software and training will be donated by the Absa Foundation, Penryn College outside White River and Microsoft SA.

Each school will receive 20 used and refurbished computers, a printer and Microsoft software.

Absa will also contribute R85 000 to train three teachers from each school through Penryn College's outreach programme, Penreach.

"There's no use in providing schools with computers if the teachers themselves are unable to use them as a teaching tool," said education department spokesman Thomas Msiza on Thursday.

He said the department was buying computers for schools through its Information Technology Programme.

About 500 computers were given to rural schools in the last financial year.

A further 774 computers will be given to more schools in the current financial year at a cost of R13,7 million.

The IT programme aims to place at least one computer in every Mpumalanga school, as well as train teachers in computer literacy, web publishing, Internet research, and basic word-processing.

The computers will also help schools automate their administration and expose teachers to a wider range of teaching resources than is currently available in deep rural areas while bridging the gap between rural and urban schools, Msiza said.

Education MEC Craig Padayachee will give the keynote address at the computer handover at Penryn College on Monday.