Japan signs grant agreement to build new classroom in Choiseul

Japan today signed a grant agreement with Vaghara Prime School in South Choiseul to build a new classroom there worth $610, 993.00 under its popular Grass Roots and Human Security Grant.

Ambassador Miwa Yoshiaki signed the agreement in Honiara with head teacher Mrs Hazel Basinava in a landmark event described by the latter as a very significant day for her school.

The school started in 2005 with Early Childhood education classes, however, it was unable to continue because of lack of facilities and resources like classrooms, teachers, tanks and sanitation. That had forced parents to pull their children out and had to walk five kilometers to a nearby school.

That changed in 2020, when the community came back together again and built classrooms and staff houses with bush-materials allowing the school to start again. They resumed classes with grade one and two and slowing now they have classes three and four.

Against that backdrop, Basinava they are really happy that Japan has stepped in to support them to build a new permanent classroom.

She added: “The project will solve the past problems which we faced at the school.”

Yoshiaki said the funding would enable the school to smoothly carry on and reach the goal of the provision of conducive environment for students there.

“I hope the project will be remembered as a symbol of the friendship between the people of Japan and Solomon Islands in the years to come.

The ambassador highlighted that one of the priority areas of their assistance is supporting basic education.

“Education plays a key role in the development of the society and the country. Education gives a great deal of support to encourages to each and every individual as it opens doors of bright future for our children,” said Yoshiaki.

He added that Solomon Islands is still a young country with a lot of children with many dreams.

“We believe this project will have a positive impact on the socio-economic development of Solomon Islands,” said the ambassador.