H.E. Mr. Ichiro MARUYAMA, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and each representative of recipient organizations from Tanintharyi Region and Ayeyarwady Region signed grant contracts for three projects on 19 December 2018. The Government of Japan, under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, will provide a total of US $446,282 as follows:

1. The Project for Construction of Bar Li Aww Village Basic Education Post Primary School in Kawthoung Township, Tanintharyi Region (US $ 125,430) ;
2. The Project for Construction of Ma Kyone Galet Village Basic Education Branch Middle School in Kawthoung Township, Tanintharyi Region (US $ 141,100) ; and
3. The Project for Construction of Kwin Baw Za Yat Seik Village Basic Education High School in Kyonpyaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region (US $ 179,752).

Bar Li Aww Village Basic Education Post Primary School is located in Kawthoung Township, Tanintharyi Region. There is only one school building with 4 classrooms for kindergarten to grade 8 students. Therefore, students of two grades have to study in one classroom and are not able to focus on their studies due to the noise from other grades. In order to provide an appropriate educational environment, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of a one-storey reinforced concrete building with 4 classrooms, full furniture and lavatories. The project will benefit 261 students attending the school.

Another school in Kawthoung Township, Ma Kyone Galet Village Basic Education Branch Middle School, is located in Bon Kyon Island. Although there are 3 school buildings, two of them were seriously damaged by termites and decaying. In addition, these 2 buildings are hall type classrooms and more than two grade students have to study in same space. In order to provide an appropriate educational environment, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for construction of 2 one-storey reinforced concrete buildings with 5 classrooms and full furniture. The project will benefit 257 students attending the school.

Due to the insufficient number of classrooms, the villagers constructed two temporary huts in Kwin Baw Za Yat Seik Village Basic Education High School in Kyonpyaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region. The students are exposed to wind and rain while they are studying, because of the lack of proper walls and ceilings. 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 and full furniture. The project will benefit 935 students of the school.

The Government of Japan has assisted 883 grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993, including 453 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.