Press Releases

» Japan Aids Kitibati School for the Disabled

The disabled children of Kiribati have a lot to be happy about when the Government of Japan donates a brand new bus to the School for the Disabled under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) program. The new school bus with an approximate cost of US$58, 018 (AU$72, 000) will be officially handed over by the Minister- Counsellor of the Embassy of Japan, Mr Kenji Miyata, at 10am, on 26th August 2004, at the School for the Disabled in Kiribati.

The Government of Japan recognizes the vitality of the special care, special education and special training in the proper development of the disabled in order to bestow them with skills, abilities and qualifications which further contribute towards the disabled attaining a lot in their daily lives without any support and in some cases leading to absorption in the country’s workforce.

The new bus should alleviate difficulties in seating capacity, fuel costs, maintenance costs and lead to uniformity in the arrival time of all students which is currently spread on a two hour period. In addition to that the Government of Japan hopes that by providing regular and reliable transport the new bus acts as an added incentive for increased daily attendance.

The Kiribati School for the Disabled Bus Project is another milestone in Japan’s ongoing support and cooperation towards Kiribati and it is significant of the friendship that exists between the Governments of Japan and Kiribati.