On 10th December, 2014, the handover and opening ceremony of the Thingangone village Basic Education High School took place in Ngaputaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region. In this ceremony, Mr. Kazuhiro YAMAMOTO, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, Daw Khin Saw Mu, Social Minister of Ayeyarwady Region, Daw Khin Than Myint, Pyittu Hluttaw Representative, U Saw Eh Gay, Regional Hluttaw Representative, Deputy Director of Department of Education, District and Township Education Officers, Township Administrator, teachers and students, Committee Chairman and committee members of the construction project and local residents attended.

The Japanese Government, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, has extended the assistance of US$121,450 for a humanitarian assistance program entitled “The Project for Construction of Thingangone Village Basic Education High School in Ngaputaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region.”

Thingangone Village Basic Education High School in Ngaputaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region was established in 1953. When Cyclone Nargis heavily struck Ngaputaw Township in May 2008, all the school buildings except one were totally destroyed. The structure of the remaining building was also in bad condition such as cracks in the concrete walling and loosened and broken wooden posts. Therefore, the Ministry of Education had approved its demolition, yet, the committee could not afford construction of the new school building. Under such conditions, the Government of Japan under its GGP scheme supported a one storey RCC building with full furniture. The project will benefit 1,038 students of the school.

The Government of Japan has assisted 704 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under this GGP scheme since 1993, the number consisting of 321 education projects, 179 healthcare projects, 136 public welfare and environment projects, 32 infrastructure projects and 36 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Myanmar and Japan, which marks its 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.