H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, and Chairpersons of the Construction Committees from States and Region concerned signed the grant contracts for four projects today. Under these contracts, Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme will provide a total of US$ 501,075 as follows:

1. The Project for Construction of Shwe Ze Ti Monastic Post Primary School in Sittwe Township, Rakhine State (USD 136,356);
2. The Project for Construction of Thar Tha Na Yaung Chi Monastic Post Primary School in Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State (USD 110,658);
3. The Project for Upgrading of Tat Kone Village Access Road in Aunglan Township, Magway Region (USD 149,849); and
4. The Project for Construction of Zay Yar Thi Ri Monastic Post Primary School in Mawlamyaine Township, Mon State (USD 104,212).

Although the number of students is increasing year by year, Shwe Ze Ti Monastic Post Primary School is not able to accept all prospective students due to the insufficient number of classrooms. Moreover, the students have been studying in congested classrooms on two shifts with less curriculum than scheduled. To tackle this issue, the Government of Japan will support the construction of a three-storey Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C.) building with 9 classrooms, full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 1,195 students of the school.

Thar Tha Na Yaung Chi Monastic Post Primary School has been using a monastic building as a temporary school building due to the lack of school building. The school needs to be closed whenever the monastery holds the religious ceremonies or events. Consequently, the curriculum has been getting behind the schedule. In order to provide an appropriate educational environment the Government of Japan will support construction of a two-storey R.C.C building with 8 classrooms with full furniture. The project will benefit 101 students of the school.

An earthen road located in Tat Kone Village connects to the highway to the nearest city. Using this road, the villagers are transporting their agricultural products, transferring patients to hospital and sending students to the high school in the city. However, during the rainy season, the road becomes muddy and 4 emergency patients died in the past 3 years due to the late treatment. In order to address these issues, the Government of Japan will support upgrading of the 4.8 km - long road with 2 pipe culverts. The project will benefit 3,610 local residents.

Due to the lack of school building, Zay Yar Thi Ri Monastic Post Primary School built a temporary school building which is built with used timber and bamboo. More than 170 students have to study in congested hall-type classrooms with exposure to rain and wind. In order to secure a proper learning environment, the Government of Japan will support construction of a two-storey R.C.C building with 8 classrooms, full furniture, walkway and lavatories. The project will benefit 191 students of the school.

The Government of Japan has assisted 811 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 397 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.