The Government of Japan provides assistance worth F$587,500.00 to Naidovi Indian School in Sigatoka, Vunidawa Indian School in Naitasiri, Vatuwaqa Primary School in Suva and Lomaivuna Settlement Primary School in Naitasiri, through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme.

The Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of the Fiji Islands, H.E. Yutaka Yoshizawa signed grant contracts with Mr. Sashi Kumar, the Head Teacher of Naidovi Indian School, Mr. Ranjit Singh, the President of Vunidawa Indian School, Mrs. Laisa Raiqeu, the former Head Teacher and Project Manager of Vatuwaqa Primary School and Mr Ilisoni Naulumatua, the School Manager of Lomaivuna Settlement Primary School to formalise Japan’s funding assistance to these projects. The signing ceremony was hosted by the Embassy of Japan in its conference room at Level 2 of Dominion House, Suva, at 11.00 a.m. on Friday 4th February, 2011.

Details of the Project are as follows:

1. The Project for Upgrading of Naidovi Indian School

The Government of Japan provided F$92,000.00 for construction of a library, walkway and provision of furniture to establish a proper library at Naidovi Indian School in Sigatoka. The school was established in 1926 and presently accommodates 342 children. The school lacked library facilities and made a formal request to the Embassy for funding assistance to construct a library with provision of proper book shelves, long tables and benches. The new library will encourage better utilisation of library services and become a fully-fledged resource centre for students to do research and assignments. It will also promote quality time management via learning through reading during free time.

2. The Project for Upgrading of Vunidawa Indian School

Vunidawa Indian School in Naitasiri also received F$186,500.00 from Government of Japan to construct three new classrooms and an ablution block. The School was established in 1960 and accommodates 166 children in 7 classrooms of which three are very old classrooms. The new classrooms will provide the students of Vunidawa an environment conducive for learning whilst the new ablution block will improve livelihood of children at Vunidawa Indian School hygienically.

3. The Project for Upgrading of Vatuwaqa Primary School

The Government of Japan also provided F$178,000.00 for construction of two new classrooms and general renovation of old buildings at Vatuwaqa Primary School. The School was established in 1930 as Vatuwaqa Indian Girls School to provide basic primary education. However, the school went through a lot of changes especially with the management from being a Government School to committee-run Vatuwaqa Primary School in 1997. Presently, there are 367 children in the school, and, with the increase in school roll due to extended streams of classes seven and eight, the school faced shortage of classrooms. Furthermore, the old wooden building structure has gone past its useful life and needs immediate attention to remain viable in the coming years. The two new classrooms and general renovation works at the school’s old building will greatly improve classroom facilities that should provide equal opportunities for the children of Vatuwaqa to achieve academic excellence.

4. The Project for Upgrading of Lomaivuna Settlement Primary School

Lomaivuna Settlement Primary School in Vunidawa, Naitasiri also received F$131,000.000 from the Government of Japan to construct a new library and toilet facilities for boarders, and purchase library furniture and double bed bunkers for boarders in the school. The school was established in 1964 and accommodates around 170 students, most of whom travel 4 to 5 kilometres daily on foot to reach school. The new boarding facilities will not only protect female students from mishaps, but also provide opportunities for female students to stay back in school and focus on studies. In addition, the new library will provide as a resource centre for students to do research and school projects.  It will also enhance student’s reading and speaking skills.

The Government of Japan believes that by providing assistance directly to recipients in Fiji not only ensures effective use of the grant, but also achieves Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy objective of promoting development at the grassroots level. Japan acknowledges basic education as the key to socio-economic development and hopes to contribute in the improvement of the daily lives of the people of Fiji through its Grant Assistance for Human Security Projects Programme (GGP). The Embassy is hopeful and confident that such cooperation will serve to strengthen the friendly ties enjoyed by Japan and Fiji.