H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, and Chairpersons of the Construction Committees from Kachin and Rakhine States signed the grant contracts for three projects today. Under these contracts, Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme will provide a total of USD 303,956 as follows:

1. The Project for Construction of No.5 Basic Education High School in Myitkyina Township, Kachin State (USD 117,769);
2. The Project for Construction of Shwe Sat Village No.2 Basic Education Post Primary School in Myitkyina Township, Kachin State (USD 48,534); and
3. The Project for Construction of Ohn Taw Chaung Village Monastic Primary School in Pauktaw Township, Rakhine State (USD 137,653).

Although No.5 Basic Education High School owns eight school buildings in its compound, it cannot accommodate all the increasing number of students. In the meantime, students have been studying in congested classrooms and it is difficult for them to concentrate on their study due to the noise from each classroom. To solve this issue, the Japanese Government will support the construction of a two-storey Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C.) building with 8 classrooms with full furniture. The project will benefit 1,840 students of the school.

Shwe Sat Village No.2 Basic Education Post Primary School has been facing challenges for years in maintaining its aged school buildings and securing a place for the incoming students. Despite the efforts, some students still have to study in a temporary space which is made with used timber and bamboo. In order to address this issue, the Japanese Government will support construction of a one-storey R.C.C. building with 4 classrooms, full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 214 students of the school.

Since Ohn Taw Chaung Village Monastic Primary School was built in 1993, the high-floored school building has been extremely deteriorated and has not enough space for all students. As a result, some students are studying in a monastery and under the floor of the high-floored school building without proper school equipment. To tackle this challenge, the Japanese Government will support construction of a two-storey R.C.C. building with 8 classrooms, full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 276 students of the school.

The Government of Japan has assisted 808 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 394 education projects, 198 healthcare projects, 138 public welfare and environment projects, 43 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.