On 15th January 2015, the handover and opening ceremony of the Khanaung Chaungwa Village Basic Education Middle School took place in Dala Township, Yangon Region. In this ceremony, Mr. Katsuyuki MATSUOKA, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, U Htay Shein, Dala Township Hluttaw Representative, Daw Swe Swe Let, Deputy Director of No.3, Department of Basic Education, U Ye Win, Dala Township Administrator, Dala Township Education Officer, 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$107,150 for a humanitarian assistance program entitled “The Project for Construction of Khanaung Chaungwa Village Basic Education Middle School in Dala Township, Yangon Region.”

Khanaung Chaungwa Village Basic Education Middle School was constructed 30 years ago. The school building was outdated and materials were decayed as well as considerably damaged by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, therefore, the Ministry of Education had approved its demolition. On the other hand, the number of students increased rapidly and they were studying in very congested classrooms. Yet, the committee could not afford construction of the new school building. Under such conditions, the Government of Japan under its GGP scheme decided to support construction of a two-storeyed RCC building with full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 568 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 marked its 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year.