Maputo — The Australian government on Wednesday donated 133 books, valued at about 4,500 US dollars, to the Maputo Health Sciences Institute, as part of its support for the Mozambican education sector.

According to Sally Kamau, programme officer for the Australian International Development agency (AusAID), the donation falls under her organisation's scholarships programme for Mozambique.

Speaking after the books were handed over, the First Secretary at the Australian High Commission in Pretoria, Kerrie Anderson, said she regarded it as a privilege to offer books to the Institute's library. The gesture reflected "the excellent relationship between our governments".

"I hope these books will contribute to improving the quality of information available in the library, and also the quality of learning and training for both students and teachers", Anderson added.

The Australian Scholarship Programme is intended mainly to help students from poor backgrounds to obtain post-secondary education qualifications. It is also aimed at encouraging women to pursue higher education. The programme has been under way since the late 1980s, and in June 2001 a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two governments to extend the programme for a further three years. "The scholarships are the main form of Australian aid to the education sector", said Anderson. "The purpose of this aid is to increase access to education, promote equality, and improve the quality and relevance of education".

She believed that improving the education of the country's youth was crucial in poverty reduction and in economic growth, Mozambique is one of the main beneficiaries of Australian foreign aid in Africa. Total Australian aid is currently running at about five million US dollars a year, spent on mine clearance, scholarships both in Mozambique and in Australia, and support for the work of Australian and local NGOs.