ENVIRONMENTALLY harmful plants have become a blessing for pupils at Boitumelo High School in the Free State town of Ficksburg.

Yesterday 250 desks made from River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), which is harmful to the environment, were handed over to the school.

Principal Elliot Mhlophe said pupils had been struggling because of furniture shortages.

"Learners would run around looking for chairs. Sometimes there would be two learners sharing one chair without a desk in front of them," he said.

He said he had previously paid almost R7000 a term to get old furniture repaired.

Speaking at the handover ceremony Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Rejoice Mabudafhasi said this would encourage pupils to put effort into their studies.

"We need scientists and researchers, that's why we are trying to encourage our youths to make careers out of water and land," Mabudafhasi said.

The project which made the desks available to the school falls under an initiative of the ministry in partnership with the South African National Parks aimed at eradicating invasive alien plants.

The plants are chopped down to make eco-friendly furniture and coffins.

Mabudafhasi said Africa has a big problem with invasive alien plants that dry out rivers and makes soil infertile.

She said this was an opportunity to save the environment while providing communities with resources.

The project has since received global recognition, winning R1-million from the World Bank.

Mabudafhasi said her department planned to develop factories nationwide and create employment through the project.

Pupils were also excited to have new desks.

Grade 11 pupil Lerato Molise said: "I'm very happy to be sitting at my new desk. Our old desks were broken and we couldn't store our books in them."