New school buildings handed over to Ministry of Education

The handover ceremony of new school buildings, which were constructed with the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to the Ministry of Education, was held at No. 9 Basic Education High School, Mingan ward, Sittway town, on 17 July morning.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Myo Thein Gyi, Union Minister for Education; U Nyi Pu, Chief Minister of Rakhine State, Maj-Gen Than Htut, Deputy Minister for Border Affairs, U Soe Aung, Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, U Kyaw Lin, Deputy Minister for Construction, Mr. Ichiro Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, Mr. Masayuki Karasawa, Chief Representative of the JICA Myanmar Office, U Aung Than Myint, Rakhine State Education Officer, teachers, students and other officials from related departments.

The ceremony opened with Myanmar school songs sung by the students of B.E.H.S Mingan School. Then, Dr. Myo Thein Gyi, Union Minister for Education, gave the opening speech stating that the schools were damaged by floods and landslides in 2015. Therefore, the Japan government provided 5 billion yen. The Ministry of Education spent 1.5 billion yen (Ks15 billion) to construct 82 schools. Of the 82 schools, 39 have been constructed in Rakhine State. The 33 schools, including Mingan School in Rakhine State, which were constructed with the assistance of JICA have been 100 per cent completed.

Now, students from Rakhine State can safely and happily access education. For the sustainability of the new schools, we should maintain the schools together.

Then, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, Mr. Ichiro Maruyama, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, and Mr. Masayuki Karasawa, Chief Representative of the JICA Myanmar Office, gave speeches, while Rakhine State Education Officer U Aung Than Myint expressed thanks.

Mr. Masayuki Karasawa handed over the documents related to the new school buildings to Rakhine State Education Officer U Aung Than Myint. The union minister, State chief minister, deputy ministers and Japanese ambassador sprinkled scented water on the stone inscription of the school.

The union minister and officials inspected the school building and gave an encouraging speech to the students at the school.

The new buildings were constructed in January 2017 by Hlaing Myint Moe Tun Construction Company. They were completed in September. The construction of two buildings, which is an RC two-storey building with 102x30 foot rooms, cost a total of Ks278.23 million.

Myint Maung Soe

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar