H.E. Mr. Ichiro MARUYAMA, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and each representative of recipient organizations from Magway region signed the grant contracts for four projects on 5 December 2018. The Government of Japan, under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, will provide a total of US$ 667,926 as follows:

1. The Project for Construction of No.5 Nunnery Middle School in Pakokku Township, Magway Region (US$ 186,091) ;
2. The Project for Construction of Lel Ma Village Basic Education Middle School in Pwintbyu Township, Magway Region (US$ 135,906) ;
3. The Project for Construction of Kyauk Ma Sin Village Basic Education Branch Middle School in Pauk Township, Magway Region (US$ 135,017) ; and
4. The Project for Construction of No.13 Popebar Yone Monastic Post Primary School in Pakokku Township, Magway Region (US$ 210,912).

No.5 Nunnery Middle School is located in Pakokku Township, Magway Region. Although there are five school buildings, one of them is a temporary hut which was made of bamboo and GI roof. Two of them are old wooden building without walls and students are exposed to wind and rain while they are studying. In addition, since these five buildings cannot accommodate all students, kindergarten students are studying at religious facility. Those students have to study outside when a religious event takes place. In order to provide an appropriate educational environment, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of a two-storey reinforced concrete building with 10 classrooms with full furniture. The project will benefit 540 students attending the school.

In Lel Ma Village Basic Education Middle School, there are four school buildings. One of the buildings was constructed 33 years ago and seriously decaying. Another two buildings are temporary huts which were made of bamboo and thatched roof. Despite this, the students are studying in these buildings due to the shortage of proper classrooms. In order to secure a proper learning environment, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of a two-storey reinforced concrete building with 8 classrooms, full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 414 students attending the school.

Kyauk Ma Sin Village Basic Education Branch Middle School is located in Pauk Township, Magway Region. This school was initially located in another place in Kyauk Ma Sin Village. However, they had to move to current location after the school building collapsed due to flood in 2016. Although there are three buildings at this current location, they are all temporary buildings which are made of bamboo and thatched roof, and the students are exposed to wind and rain during their studies. In order to provide an appropriate educational environment, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of a two-storey reinforced concrete building with 6 classrooms, full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 87 students of the school.

At another school in Pakokku Township, No.13 Popebar Yone Monastic Post Primary School, the students of four grades have to use religious facilities or library as classrooms due to the lack of school buildings. Even though they have four school buildings, these buildings are also very old and deteriorating, and the students are exposed to wind and rain since some buildings are missing walls. In order to secure a proper learning environment, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of a two-storey reinforced concrete building with 10 classrooms and full furniture. The project will benefit 284 students of the school.

The Government of Japan has assisted 880 grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993, including 450 education projects, 200 healthcare projects, 140 public welfare and environment projects, 55 infrastructure projects and 35 other projects. It is expected that this assistance will further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.