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  • Handing-Over & Official Opening Ceremony of THE PROJECT FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF SAMAUGA PRIMARY SCHOOL UNDER JAPAN’S GRASS-ROOTS HUMAN SECURITY GRANT AID
8 December 2010

The Government of Japan handed over “The Project for Reconstruction of Samauga Primary School” for the grant of up to $AUD 115,874, or equivalent to approximately Samoan Tala, 261,200 today 8 December 2010.

This project was proposed by the Samauga Primary School Committee in 2009.  The project consisted of the construction of a new school building including six (6) new classrooms. Throughout the development of this project, the School Committee has responded vigorously and also provided generous counterpart contributions for additional classrooms and other facilities.  The completion of this project provides not only a much safer and more secure learning environment by relocating the school facilities on to one property, but also provides the privacy for learning through minimising distractions.  The Samauga Primary School was also in urgent need of renovation due to aging facilities since it was reconstructed in early 1990’s following cyclones Val and Ofa.  The completion of this new school compound on a single site also now meets the School Standards of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC). 

The Government of Samoa has been undertaking to strengthen the education sector through improving school facilities and equipment, and to help enhance the quality of life of its society in line with the Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS) 2008–2012.  The completion of this project will provide a learning facility that will give students the best opportunity to receive a high quality of education and is another prominent achievement towards the goal of the SDS, the “Quality of Life for ALL”   

The Government of Japan extends its best wishes to the Samauga Primary School and wishes to continue to support Samoa promoting its goal of the SDS.  “I believe that education is essential for the development of a nation, turning the potential of its people into reality, and that the children who learn in Samauga Primary School will play a key role in the economic and social development of Samoa in the future.”, Mr Takashi Ato, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan said at the ceremony today.  

Mr Ato concluded his address by renewing the commitment of the Government of Japan to provide assistance for Samoa’s development, and calling for further progress in the friendly bilateral relationship between Japan and Samoa.  

This project is a follow-up of Japan’s action plan committed to at the 5th Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting in May 2009 (PALM5).

  • Handing-Over & Official Opening Ceremony OFTHE PROJECT FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF ALEISA PRIMARY SCHOOL UNDER JAPAN’S GRASS-ROOTS HUMAN SECURITY GRANT AID (Press Release)
30 September 2010

Today, 30 September 2010, the Reconstruction Project for Aleisa Primary School is completed with a grant provided by the Government of Japan. The grant comprises up to $AUD 106,264, or approximately 239,500 Tala.

This reconstruction project was proposed in 2009 by the Aleisa Primary School Committee, which undertook the construction of a new school building with five new classrooms.

The Government of Samoa highly prioritised the promotion of education in the “Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS) 2008-2012”. Throughout the development of this project, the School Committee has responded vigorously and provided generous counterpart contributions.

The completion of this project will provide the foundation for a better education for all students, and help take a step closer to the national goal of “Improved Quality of Life for All”.

Mr. Takashi Ato, First Secretary of Embassy of Japan, recognises that the community and individuals have been working closely and diligently in recovery efforts in the tsunami aftermath. Given such enormous damage and losses, the Government of Japan pledges to continue support and assistance in recovery and development.

His congratulatory remarks started by paying tribute to the Samoan people for showing their courage and teamwork in their attempts to get their normal life back on the first anniversary of the 2009 Samoan earthquake and tsunami. He noted that today’s hand-over ceremony provided him with a very special opportunity not only to witness the accomplishment of this particular project but also to renew the commitment of the Government of Japan to provide assistance for Samoa’s development, and to make further progress in the friendly bilateral relationship between Japan and Samoa.

This project is a follow-up of Japan’s action plan committed to at the 5th Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting in May 2009 (PALM5).