Japan supports education in Houaphanh

(KPL) The Government of Japan has decided to provide US dollars 84,633 as a grant for the project on improvement of Primary School Environment in Hap village, Xiengkhor district, and Kang village, Sopbao district in Houaphanh province.

The agreement was signed on 10 November at Maytrichith Government Guesthouse in Vientiane Capital, by Mr. Masaaki Miyashita, Ambassador of Japan to Laos, and Mr. Phonsouk Chanthavong, Head of the Education Service of Houaphanh province.

Dr. Somthong Vilayphone, Director of the Houaphanh Province Administration Office and officials concerned witnessed the signing ceremony.

Mr. Phonsouk said that the construction of the two primary schools for Hap village in Xiengkhor district and Kang village in Sopbao district would take six months.

Since 1996, the government of Japan has provided grant aid for the construction of 15 primary schools in Houaphanh province under its Grand Assistance Scheme for Grassroots Human Security Projects. The Australian government and the World Bank have supported the construction of 54 schools and 84 schools in this northeastern province, respectively.

More schools are needed for five poorest districts in the province namely Viengxay, Samtay, Xiengkhor, Houameuang and Viengthong, according to Mr. Phonsouk. There is an acute shortage of schooling facilities in rural and remote areas in the Lao PDR, especially in Houaphanh province, and a number of school children face difficulties in accessing primary education. It is expected that primary education in these areas will be significantly improved through the project.

KPL Lao News Agency