Japan supports school expansion in Oromia, Amhara

Addis Ababa, May 8 (WIC) - Two inauguration ceremonies for secondary school expansion funded by the Government of Japan’s Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP) scheme took place on Sunday 6 May 2012.   

According to a statement the Embassy of Japan sent to WIC today, the first inauguration ceremony was for the Project for the Expansion
of the Tijo Secondary High School, Arsi Zone, Oromia. The GGP fund for this project amounted to 106, 379 US dollars.

Yoshiaki ITO, Minister and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia, celebrated the completion of the school blocks, together with Shiferaw Jarso, Basin Affairs Advisor, Umer Hussien, Deputy Chief of the Oromia State and members of the community.

This Project was implemented by the Digelu-Tijo Woreda Education Office, in collaboration with the local residents who supported the project with their labor.   

In this project, the Embassy of Japan supported the construction of two school blocks with eight classrooms, and provided 184 combined desks, 8 blackboards, and 8 chairs and tables for teachers.

The second inauguration Ceremony for the Project for the Construction of Lega Secondary School was held in Awobel, Amhara State. The GGP fund for this project amounted to 102,924 US dollars.

Yoshihisa SHIRAISHI, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, celebrated the completion of two school blocks, together with Dr. Meshesha Shewarega, Executive Director of Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Association (CCRDA), and Dr. Araya Asfaw, Executive Director of the Horn of Africa Regional Environment Center (HARE), and representatives of the Amhara State, as well as members of the local community.   

Through this project, two blocks with a total of eight classrooms have been newly constructed and fully furnished with 248 combined desks and chairs, eight blackboards, fifteen office desks, thirty office chairs and eight book shelves.  As a result, about 1,000 students in this area will move forward to secondary education.   

During the Inauguration Ceremony, Yoshihisa SHIRAISHI expressedhis congratulations when handing over the newly built school buildings to the community.

He also thanked the community for their benevolent cooperation in this project, mentioning that 300,000 birr was contributed from the community to build an additional office block and latrine block for this school.

He expressed his hope that the community would make the most use of these newly built blocks and enjoy great benefits.  He also emphasized, “It is important to maintain the school facilities in good condition so that they would serve the local interests for a long time”.   

In Ethiopia, since 1997, over 300 projects have been implemented under GGP scheme in such sectors as education, water supply, health services, and other basic human needs.