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Japan Provides a 30-Seater School Bus to the Children of Fiji School for the Blind

Japan’s Ambassador to Fiji, H.E. Mr. Kenro Iino will hand over a 30-seater bus to the Fiji School for the Blind in Vatuwaqa, Suva, at 10.00 am on Monday 2nd August, 2004. The Government of Japan provided a grant of US$49,372 (approx. F$87,000) for the purchase of the new bus.

The Fiji School for the Blind, which is managed by the Fiji Society for the Blind, was established in 1970 and currently had a school roll of 47 children and 15 staff. The school is the only one of its kind in providing education specifically for children with blind disabilities.

The bus will help with the children’s daily transportation to and from school, for educational tours and excursions. Further benefits of having transportation would be the establishment of comfort, pleasure and social development.

Japan’s assistance to the school is aimed at ensuring that children with disabilities have access to good educational facilities and the opportunities to develop their talents and become productive members of the society.

The Government of Japan views special education as a basic need and had prioritised the upgrading of special schools such as the Fiji School for the Blind under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP) programme.

This is another milestone in Japan’s commitment to support one of the general purpose of ODA (Official Development Assistance), which are poverty and humanity as well as the promotion of economic and social development in the Pacific.