Nippon Foundation builds 300th school

March 4, 2018

Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than attended the opening of Long Hey Basic Education Post-Primary School in Pa-O Self-Administered Zone on 3 March.

The post-primary school is the 300th school built under the initiative to construct schools by the Ministry of Border Affairs and the Nippon Foundation in Shan State.

Attending the event were Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Union Minister for Education Dr. Myo Thein Gyi, Shan State Chief Minister Dr. Lin Htut, Major General Win Min Tun of Eastern Command, deputy ministers, Shan State ministers, the Chairman of the Pa-O National Organization Nippon Foundation Chairman Mr Yohei Sasakawa, Head of Economic and Development Assistance Section at the Embassy of Japan Mr Kazuyuki Takimi, officials from philanthropic groups, and more than 1,000 ethnic nationals.

Firstly, Mahn Win Khaing Than, Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Dr. Myo Thein Gyi, Dr. Lin Htut, Major General Win Min Tun, Mr. Sasakawa and Mr. Takimi cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the school and planted some trees.

The attendees then toured the school, while Mr. Sasakawa, deputy ministers and the Pa-O National Organisation chairman opened the school’s playground. The second part of the ceremony began with the transfer of the school’s ownership.

Lt-Gen Ye Aung first delivered a speech noting that the day’s ceremony was an auspicious day for the country’s education. He said the Nippon Foundation has been providing assistance since 2002 to build or renovate schools and implement projects in the community to raise funds. He said the foundation was planning to expand the project into northern and southern Shan state and the Kayah State to build some 120 schools.

Next, Dr. Myo Thein Gyi said the Ministry of Education was working hard to implement the National Education Strategic Plan, so that no one is left behind in education.

He also said the ministry would upgrade education colleges to a four-year programme for an education degree to train highly-skilled teachers.

Mr. Sasakawa then explained the Nippon Foundation’s work in assisting Myanmar’s educational development, national reconciliation and peace efforts. Mr. Takimi also encouraged people to preserve the schools and raise the educational level of the children.

Next, the Shan State Chief Minister and the Chairman of the Pa-O National Organization thanked the Nippon Foundation and all other participating philanthropic organizations for contributing towards the development of the educational sector.

Later, the documents of Long Hey school, sports equipment, and a fund of Ks7,300,000 were handed over to the responsible officials. Finally, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, union ministers and esteemed guests received commemorative certificates for the school’s opening and other local products. —Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar