The Government of Japan, under its Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme,has granted US$192,804for construction of Winka Village Basic Education Primary School in Bilin Townshipandconstruction of Road between Moksogyun and Tagukalon villages in Kyaikmaraw Township, in Mon State.

The hand-over and opening ceremony of Winka Village Basic Education Primary School and the community road between Moksogyun and Tagukalon villages were held on February 14 and 15at the respective project sites in Bilin and Kyaikmaraw Townships respectively.

At the ceremony on February 14, H.E. Mr. Mikio NUMATA, the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar together with U Ohn Myint, H.E. Chief Minister of the Government of Mon State, Dr. HlaOo, Mon State Minister for Health and Education,U Myo Lwin and U Myo, Bilin Township Administrator and Bilin Township Education Officer, School Construction Committee members and local people attended and at the ceremony on February 15, the Ambassador together with U HtayOo, Vice Chairman of USDP Party, U Toe Toe Aung, Mon State Minister for Development Affairs, Community Road Construction members and local residence attended respectively.

Winka Village Basic Education Primary Schoolopened in 1990 with a temporary building of bamboo posts and thatch roof. At present, 136 school children are studying at school under 4 teachers. The school buildingwas getting old and flooring and roofing of the school are becoming deteriorated. The students are also studying at school with insufficient school furniture.

Similarly, Moksogyun Village in Kyaikmaraw Township has lack of all-weathered access road to Mawlamyine and it is facing difficulties to export their local products to the markets, to refer the emergency patients of the village to nearest hospitals and to continue the middle school or high school education after the children graduated from primary school of the village.

Undersuch circumstances, the Government of Japan has decided to provide US$ 87,613 for construction ofone storied R.C. school building with five class-rooms, toilets, walkway and school furniture forWinka Village Basic Education Primary School through its GGPScheme. Similarly, it provided US$105,191 for construction of 2.3 meters wide and 3.7 kilometers long community laterite road between Moksogyun and Tagukalon Villages through its GGP Scheme.

It is expected that theseassistance willprovide the students of WinkaBasic Education Primary School with better learning and sanitation environmentand Moksogyun and Tagukalonall-weathered community road will also provide the social, health care, education, economic development of those villages. Moreover, these assistance are believed to further strengthen existing friendly relations betweenJapan and Myanmar.