H.E. Mr. Ichiro MARUYAMA, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and each representative of recipient organizations from Rakhine State signed grant contracts for the following projects on 13 March 2019. The Government of Japan, under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Scheme, will provide a total of US $ 639,246 as follows:

1. The Project for Construction of Myet Yaik Kyun Village Basic Education Branch Middle School in Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State (US $ 114,578);
2. The Project for Construction of Chaung Shey Village Basic Education Middle School in Minbya Township, Rakhine State (US $ 136,273)
3. The Project for Construction of Gyee Phyu Taung Village Basic Education Middle School in Toungup Township, Rakhine State (US $ 201,240); and
4. The Project for Construction of Kan Chaung Villlage Monastic Post Primary School in Pauktaw Township, Rakhine State (US $ 187,155).

The Myet Yaik Kyun Village Basic Education Branch Middle School has only one building for 244 students from KG to G8 where almost half of the students study outside during the dry season. Classes are split into two shifts in the rainy season, morning and afternoon, so that all students are able to study inside the school building although this causes delay in their studies. In order to tackle these issues, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for the construction of a one-story reinforced concrete building with 5 classrooms, full furniture, and lavatories. The project will benefit 244 students and 12 faculty members in the school.

The Chaung Shey Village Basic Education Middle School receives students from surrounding villages without a middle school. As a result, the number of students exceeds the capacity of the two school buildings and some students study in temporary classrooms in a monastery facility 1.5 km away. In addition, the school buildings are severely deteriorated with damaged roofs and walls. In order to improve these situation, the Government of Japan will provide assistance for the construction of a two-story reinforced concrete building with 6 classrooms, full furniture, and lavatories. The project will benefit 345 students and 12 teachers in the school.

The Gyee Phyu Taung Village Basic Education Middle School has been experiencing difficulties from lack of classrooms to accommodate students from KG to G8. The residents in the village have built temporary huts to provide more space but the huts have deteriorated and students are exposed to rain during the rainy season. In addition to buildings, the number of desks, chairs, and lavatories are insufficient at the school. In order to tackle these issues, the Government of Japan will provide funding for the construction of a two-story reinforced concrete building with 10 classrooms, full furniture, and lavatories. The project will benefit 601 students and 17 faculty members in the school.

One of the school buildings at Kan Chaung Village Monastic Post Primary School is tilted due to serious decay and is in a danger of collapse. In addition, the school is closed during religious ceremonies at the monastery which causes delay in the studies. In one of the buildings, more than 100 students study in the space underneath the floor of the monastery which becomes unusable during the rainy season. In order to improve the studying environment, the Government of Japan will provide funding for the construction of a two-story reinforced concrete building with 10 classrooms, full furniture, and lavatories. The project will benefit 315 students and 7 faculty members in the school.

The Government of Japan has assisted 900 grass-roots projects in Myanmar under the GGP scheme since 1993, including 464 education projects, 200 healthcare projects, 140 public welfare and environment projects, 61 infrastructure projects and 35 others. This assistance is expected to further strengthen the existing friendly relations between Japan and Myanmar.