H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, and Chairpersons of the Construction Committees from Ayeyarwady and Sagaing Regions concerned signed the grant contracts for six projects on 8 March 2018. The Government of Japan, under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, will provide a total of US$ 877,828 as follows:

1. The Project for Upgrading of Road between Shin Pin Thar Hlyaung Village and Me Za Li Taw Village in Hinthada Township, Ayeyarwady Region (US$ 281,126) ;
2. The Project for Construction of Si Thar Village Basic Education Post Primary School in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region (US$ 107,214) ;
3. The Project for Construction of Kyarinn Village Basic Education Middle School in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region (US$ 150,162) ;
4. The Project for Construction of Thar Yar Basic Education Branch Middle School in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region (US$ 122,326);
5. The Project for Construction of No.2 Ward Basic Education Post Primary School in Kalewa Township, Sagaing Region (US$ 89,875); and
6. The Project for Construction of Myoma No. 2 Ward Basic Education Branch Middle School in Pinlebu Township, Sagaing Region (US$ 127,125).

The road between Shin Pin Thar Hlyaung Village and Me Za Li Taw Village is an earthen road which is accessible only in dry seasons and very difficult to access in rainy season as the road becomes muddy and damaged. Because of the poor transportation, communities cannot transport and sell their monsoon agriculture products to other places and reduce families’ income, consequently. In order to tackle these issues, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for upgrading of the 3.45 km long road with 11 culverts and the project will benefit 5,080 local residents from 9 villages.

As Si Thar Village Basic Education Post Primary School was hit by the flood in 2015, one of the school buildings had been submerged for 9 days and seriously deteriorated. However all the students are still studying there, since the school and community cannot afford to build the new school building. In order to secure a safe learning environment, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of a two-storey Reinforced Concrete (RC) building with 6 classrooms and full furniture. The project will benefit 125 students of the school.

Similarly, some of the classrooms cannot be used in Kyarinn Village Basic Education Middle School due to the flood in 2015. Therefore, over 70 students have to study in a classroom. In order to provide an appropriate educational environment, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of a two-storey RC building with 8 classrooms and full furniture. The project will benefit 572 students of the school.

The school building of Thar Yar Basic Education Branch Middle School almost collapsed and it was reinforced with timbers because the pillars seriously decayed. However students are studying there. As the number of students is increasing, over 60 students have to study in a classroom. Moreover, the school cannot accept the enrollment of new G6 and G7 students, due to the lack of proper classrooms. In order to tackle the issue, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of a two-storey RC building with 6 classrooms and full furniture. The project will benefit 542 students of the school.

As the school building of No.2 Ward Basic Education Post Primary School was constructed by the villagers, the size of each classroom is smaller than that specified by the government. Therefore, over 60 students are studying in a congested classroom. In order to solve the problem, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of a two-storey RC building with 6 classrooms and full furniture. The project will benefit 316 students of the school.

One of the school buildings in Myoma No. 2 Ward Basic Education Branch Middle School was constructed in 1989 and seriously decayed. Although there are many cracks on the walls, the leaky roof and decaying pillars, the students have to study in this building due to the shortage of proper classrooms. In order to secure a safe learning environment, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of a one-storey RC building with 6 classrooms with full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 616 students of the school.

The Government of Japan has assisted 857 various grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993: the number consisting of 427 education projects, 201 healthcare projects, 139 public welfare and environment projects, 55 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is expected that these assistances will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.