The Japanese Government, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, has granted US$ 371,770 for

1) The Project for Construction of Ngat Pyaw Taw Village Basic Education Branch Primary School in Thabaung Township, Ayeyarwady Region (US$ 85,610),
2) The Project for Construction of Nga Myin Chaung Basic Education Branch Middle School in Myaungmya Township, Ayeyarwady Region (US$ 128,735) and
3) The Project for Construction of Kyon Taing Village Basic Education High School in Wakema Township, Ayeyarwady Region (US$ 157,425).

The handover ceremony for the first project is to assist the school out of 493 flood affected ones requested by the Government of Myanmar to the Government of Japan for the reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The handover ceremonies of the above 3 projects took place in Thabaung, Myaungmya and Wakema Townships on 28th and 29th November 2017, accordingly. Dr. Takanori INOSE, First Secretary and Medical Attaché of the Embassy of Japan, U Zaw Thein, Member of Ayeyarwady Region Pyithu Hluttaw elected for Wakema Township, Daw Khine Zin Oo, Member of Ayeyarwady Region Hluttaw elected for Myaungmya Township Consistency No.2, U Htay Aung, Member of Ayeyarwady Region Hluttaw elected for Wakema Township Consistency No.1, committee chairpersons, committee members of the construction projects, and local residents attended the ceremonies.

The single school building in Ngat Pyaw Taw Village Basic Education Branch Primary School was flooded at the height of 5 feet by the flood in 2015. However, students had to study in that deteriorated building, due to the lack of school building. In order to provide a secure learning environment, the Government of Japan provided funding for construction of a two-storey Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C.) building with 6 classrooms, full furniture, and 2 lavatories. The project benefits 113 students of the school.

Japan has experienced many natural disasters in the past. Accordingly, Japan has learnt the lessons from the past disasters and introduced the concept "Build Back Better" worldwide. "Build Back Better" is to reconstruct our society after a disaster, much better and stronger than before a disaster in order to reduce potential disaster risks. Based on this concept, the new school buildings which have provided under the GGP scheme, have stronger structure than flood affected buildings.

There are 5 school buildings in Nga Myin Chaung Basic Education Branch Middle School. However, the number of classrooms is insufficient and more than 100 students had to study in one classroom of the temporary school building made of fragile materials. In order to tackle this challenge, the Government of Japan provided funding for construction of a two-storey R.C.C. building with 8 classrooms with full furniture. The project benefits 705 students of the school.

Kyon Taing Village Basic Education High School was established in 1954. Although building No.1 which was built in 1969 had been decayed, many of students had been studying in congested classrooms due to the insufficient number of classrooms. In order to secure a proper educational environment, the Government of Japan provided funding for construction of a two-storey R.C.C. building with 10 classrooms with full furniture. The project benefits 1,110 students of the school.

The Government of Japan has assisted 824 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 399 education projects, 199 healthcare projects, 139 public welfare and environment projects, 52 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.