11 Feb 2015

The Japanese government has donated US$73 047 (about P700 000) to Hukuntsi Sub-district Council for construction of a pre-school at Hunhukwe.

The grant contract was concluded and signed by Ambassador of Japan, Mr Masahiro Onisho and Hukuntsi Sub-district's senior assistant council secretary, Mr Joseph Kgabanyane recently.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Onishi said he was pleased that their assistance would contribute to Botswana'st initiative of introducing early childhood education in government schools.

He also said he believed that the children’s readiness towards school life would be significantly improved through the project and hoped that it would result in better academic results and bring them a wider possibilities for the future.

For his part, Kgalagadi District council chairperson, Mr Justice Nkwane said the deal marked a milestone in establishing a cooperation and partnership with a developed country like Japan.

Mr Nkwane further stated that Hunkukwe was a remote village and therefore faced some challenges such as road and transport shortage that made access to services rather difficult, hence the poor education system.

He said the project would be significant in improving the education foundation that would ultimately improve the pass rate of the primary school in the village that has been low.

The government of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GPP) is a grant scheme that support projects addressing social problems and is aiming at community development at the grass-roots level.

Through the grant scheme, Japan has extended support to 38 organisations in Botswana in the last 16 years. ENDS