A new toilet block and an upgraded classroom for Angaha Government Primary Schools in ʻEua were officially opened February 12.
Funded through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects, GGP, His Excellency Mr. Yukio Numata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga commissioned the new school facilities.
Mr. Numata during his opening speech said: “Education is a significant tool for empowering people and developing resilient communities.In order to achieve this, children need to be educated in a safer and healthy environment which is the target of this project.”
GGP was introduced in 1989, to cater for development needs in isolated and developing countries including Tonga. “To date over 53 percent of the GGP projects completed in Tonga are implemented in the field of Education”, a statement said.
Tongaʻs Minister of Revenues and Custom Hon. Tevita Lavemaau who is also ʻEua’s Member of Parliament, “acknowledged the generous and significant assistance from the people and Government of Japan”.
Chief Education Officer for the Ministry of Education and Training Mr. ‘Isikeli Oko, “extended the heartfelt gratitude of the Ministry of Education and Training, and Angaha GPS Parents and Teachers Association for Japan’s assistance”.
“Between 1993 and 2010, Japan has assisted about $15million pa’anga and dispatched JICA volunteers into the education sector of Tonga. About 80% or more of University graduands in the past ten years have benefitted either directly or indirectly from Japanese assistance,” Mr. Oko said
