The Government of Japan granted financial assistance for construction of 10 classrooms and upgrading an ablution block to two primary schools in Tarawa, Kiribati under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme. The schools celebrated the handing-over ceremony for provision of school facilities at Tebwanimwaneka Primary School and Dai Nippon Primary School worth US$147,982 (approx. AU$194,938).

Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Takeshi Tanabe, on behalf of the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kiribati, His Excellency Yutaka Yoshizawa  was at Tebwanimwaneka Primary School in Banraeaba at 9.30 a.m. and at Dai Nippon Primary School in Betio at 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday 3rd March 2010 to officially hand-over the new school facilities.

Details on the individual projects are as follows:

1. The Project for Upgrading of Tebwanimwaneka Primary School

Japan provided funding assistance of AU$119,838.07 for construction of 6 new classroom and maintenance of existing ablution block to Tebwanimwaneka Primary School. The new classrooms will enable the school to accommodate children from overcrowded temporary classrooms which have deteriorated over the years. The new classrooms will provide an environment conducive for students to achieve academic success. Extension of two toilets and a shower to the existing ablution block will also improve pupil-toilet ratio at the school. Moreover, the provision of water pump will ensure regular water supply for toilet needs thereby improve students and teachers’ hygiene.

2. The Project for Upgrading of Dai Nippon Primary School

Japan also provided funding assistance worth AU$75,100 to Dai Nippon Primary School, for construction of four classrooms with furniture. Six classes of Dai Nippon Primary School used to share their classrooms and 1 class used Maneaba due to shortage of adequate classroom space.   The new classroom will empower Dai Nippon Primary School to expand size of classrooms to accommodate 670 students attending the school in Betio. Provision of 111 sets of new furniture for the students and teachers and maintenance of 106 sets of old furniture for the students will ease the difficulties that had been faced by students and teachers. The new facilities will provide equal opportunities for the children in Dai Nippon Primary School to excel academically.

The Government of Japan believes that by providing assistance directly to recipients in Kiribati will not only ensure effective use of grant, but also achieve Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy objective of promoting development at the grassroots level. Japan acknowledges education is the key to socio-economic development and hopes to improve lives of people of Kiribati through its Grant Assistance for Human Security Projects programme (GGP). The Embassy provided total fund of US$224,797 (approx. AU$ 309,927.07) in the fiscal year 2008 to the Kiribati and is confident that such cooperation will serve to strengthen the friendly ties enjoyed by the Governments and the people of Japan and the Republic of Kiribati.