The Japanese-funded Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) will be unveiling two schools they have upgraded, namely the Oipya Primary School in Engela and the Savo Nuts Private School in Oshikango.
The unveiling of the Oipya Primary School will take place today and the Savo Nuts Private School will take place tomorrow.
The new blocks at the two schools represent the programme’s commitment to providing crucial and non-refundable financial aid to educational institutions, hospitals, NGOs, local authorities and non-profit organisations.
“I am very happy and excited because this project has created a good conducive environment for learning, and it has also made teaching easier,” stated Aune Hamupolo, principal of Oipya Primary School. The construction project has added a school block, consisting of three spacious classrooms and a storeroom.
To celebrate these achievements, Oipya Primary School and Savo Nuts Private School held two separate inaugurations, signifying a notable stride in the dedication to supporting Namibian students and nurturing a space conducive to development and education. “Our learners are very happy about the new conducive environment, and the ablution facilities dignify them,” said Shingirai Mbuzi, director of Savo Nuts Private School.
The construction project, Savo Nuts Private School, has added a school block, consisting of four spacious classrooms, four teacher’s rooms, a storeroom and ablution facilities.
Japan’s ambassador to Namibia Hisao Nishimaki is “pleased to know that 115 learners from grades one to three are now studying in the newly-constructed classrooms at Oipya Primary School, and the people who benefitted even more were a total of 108 learners from grades 5 to 7, who were able to move to classrooms of permanent structure”.
Nishimaki highlighted that N$731 663 was spent for that refurbishment, while a total of N$919 620 was used to fix rooms and ablution facilities at Savo Nuts Private School.
He said: “I am very pleased to witness that a total of 168 learners will be able to study in newly-constructed classrooms as opposed to studying in the open and harsh weather conditions”.
Since its launch in 1997, Japan has actively funded GGP in Namibia, supporting 90 projects, with a grant surpassing N$70 million.
Notably, the embassy stated that 72 of these projects have focused on constructing school buildings and around 300 classrooms.
Presently, ongoing projects in Kavango East, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Oshikoto and Zambezi will collectively contribute 19 additional school classrooms to Namibia.
– psiririka@nepc.com.nad