The O Ninho kindergarten in the Cabo Verdean city of Porto Novo, in Santo Antão island, reopened on Thursday after the 30-year-old building it occupies was refurbished with Chinese help, Inforpress reports.

The Cabo Verdean state-run news agency says the Porto Novo municipal authorities spent 6 million escudos (about US$60,130) on refurbishing the building.

The report says the money was provided by the Chinese government and the Cabo Verdean Ministry of Education.

It quotes Cabo Verdean Education Minister Maritza Rosabal as saying her country has US$1.2 million available from sources abroad for improving its pre-school and basic education.

Some of the money will be spent on playground equipment, on equipment for children with special needs, and on staff training, Inforpress quotes Ms Rosabal as saying.