Harare — Australia has donated 17 000 desks worth about US$240 000 to the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture for use in schools across the country.

Sigola Primary School in Matabeleland South yesterday became the first beneficiary when the Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr John Courtney made an official hand over to schools in the province.

More than 100 schools are expected to benefit. Many rural schools have a shortage of furniture.

The lap desks are portable and made of wood or hard plastic.

They are placed on the lap to provide a solid working area and are an interim solution to the desk shortages.

In a statement yesterday, the Australian Embassy said: "By substituting normal desks and chairs, lap desks will positively impact the educational development of children currently affected by desk shortages.

"This program provides an important opportunity for Australia to work with the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture to provide tangible support to school children in need."

Lapdesk Zimbabwe managing director Mr Munyaradzi Javangwe said over one million schoolchildren had limited access to desks in their classrooms.