H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, and Chairpersons of the Construction Committees from the State and Region concerned signed the grant contracts for four projects on December 6, 2017. Japan will provide a total of US$ 631,098 under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme as follows:

1. The Project for Construction of Pinlon No.1 Basic Education High School in Loilen Township, Shan State (USD 166,607),
2. The Project for Construction of Pinlon No.2 Basic Education High School in Loilen Township, Shan State (USD 186,400),
3. The Project for Construction of Ma Yan Gwa Village Basic Education Middle School in Kyaiklat Township, Ayeyarwady Region (USD 123,222) and
4. The Project for Construction of Myit Wa Village Basic Education Branch High School in Pantanaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region (USD 154,869).

Pinlon No.1 Basic Education High School is situated in Pinlon town which is a famous historical peace agreement place in Loilen Township, Southern Shan State. The school was established as a primary school in 1925, then, upgraded to middle school in 1961, high school in 1982. However, due to an increase of the number of students, students have to learn lessons in congested classrooms. In order to provide an appropriate educational environment, the Government of Japan will support construction of a two-storey Reinforced Concrete Construction (R.C.C.) building with 8 classrooms and full furniture. The project will benefit 2,161 students of the school.

The students of Pinlon No.2 Basic Education High School are also learning in congested classrooms under uncomfortable learning environments in old school buildings. In order to tackle this problem, the Government of Japan will support construction of a two-storey R.C.C. building with 10 classrooms, full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 1,963 students of the school.

Ma Yan Gwa Village in Ayeyarwady Region is accessible from other towns only by waterway. The students of Ma Yan Gwa Village Basic Education Middle School are studying in a simple classroom of the hall type 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 6 classrooms with full furniture. The project will benefit 382 students of the school.

Myit Wa Village Basic Education Branch High School was upgraded from Middle School in 2016. The number of students from Grade 5 to 8, in secondary education, is more than 50 students in one classroom. In order to develop an appropriate learning environment, the Government of Japan will support the construction of a two-storey R.C.C. building with 8 classrooms and full furniture in the school. The project will benefit 667 students of the school.

The Government of Japan has assisted 828 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 402 education projects, 199 healthcare projects, 139 public welfare and environment projects, 53 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is anticipated that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.