Central China's Henan Province, the most populous in the nation, is planning to spend 600 million yuan to buy 3.7 million desks and benches for the students in rural areas.

The plan was revealed on Sunday at a meeting of the Henan provincial government. A total of 12.21 million primary and junior middle school students are expected to benefit from the plan.

Currently the families of students supply about 1.8 million desks and benches on their own to poorly-equipped schools in rural areas. Under the plan they will no longer need to do so by November.

The provincial government will also replace 1.9 million worn-out desks and benches over the next five years.

Henan plans to invest 4.29 billion yuan, including 2.29 billion yuan from the central government, in education at a million primary and junior middle schools this year.

Henan has about 100 million residents most of whom live in less developed rural areas.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2007)