The Japanese Government provided grant assistance worth US$ 538,555 dollars  to expand or reconstruct school buildings at six schools in the provinces of Vientiane, Savannakhet, Champasak and Attapeu, through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGPs).

The grant contracts for six GGP projects in education were signed at the Ministry of Education and Sports in Vientiane Capital on Mar 7  between  Mr. Takeshi Hikihara, Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR, and four Directors of the Education and Sports Offices, representing the respective province and districts, while Mr. Khamphay Sisavanh, Vice Minister of Education and Sports, and other officials witnessed.

The first four projects are for the reconstruction of school buildings at the Khamvongsa Lower Secondary School in Attapeu Province, the Maiparktoun Lower Secondary School in Vientiane Province, the Naport Secondary School in Savannakhet Province and the Houayhai Lower Secondary School in Champasack Province.

At these schools, the conditions of school buildings are poor, being run down.

Therefore, the projects aim to improve the educational environment by constructing a block of three to six fully furbished classrooms.

The second project is for the construction of school buildings at the Vongsomphou Lower Secondary School in Attapeu Province.

The school does not have a building yet, and it is operated by borrowing the elementary school building of the village. Since the furniture is for elementary school students, it is difficult for junior high school students to use, and it is also a problem that there is no faculty room.

Therefore, the project aims to improve the educational environment by constructing a block of five fully furbished classrooms and a faculty room.

The other project is for the expansion of school buildings at the Nasak Secondary School in Vientiane Province.

At this school, the number of students is expected to increase while classrooms are already overcrowded.

Therefore, the project aims to improve the educational environment by constructing two additional blocks of four fully furbished classrooms.  As a result, the average number of students per class will decline.

Through these six projects, a total of about 2,000 school students will enjoy the benefits of an improved educational environment.

In his remarks, Ambassador Hikihara emphasized, “It is critically important that the benefits of the projects should be enjoyed by people in the respective local communities as this is the most significant characteristic of GGPs.”

He continued, “Japan attaches great importance to basic education as a foundation for development. Through this GGP scheme, Japan has funded 282 education projects since 1989, including 171 primary schools and 61 lower and upper secondary schools”.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by KPL News

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