Invest in education, says Japan envoy
Nov 24, 2008
Ugandans have been urged to invest more in the education of children.
By Chris Ahimbisibwe
Ugandans have been urged to invest more in the education of children.
The Japanese ambassador, Keiichi Kato, said children were the future of the country.
“Japan attributes her industrialisation in the last 50 years to the high level of investment in education. Developing countries like Uganda, can reduce poverty through similar strategies,†Kato said.
He was on Thursday officiating at the commissioning of two classroom blocks, a two-in-one staff house, 14 stances of VIP latrines and 247 twin desks at Kihiire primary school in Bushenyi district.
Kato said the facilities were worth over 139m.
The project was funded by the Japanese Government through the Grant Assistance for Grass Root and Human Security Projects.
The ambassador said the donation follows an application for support from the school administration.
The school management committee chairman, Moses Mwebesa Rugunda, said they appealed for the support after a heavy hailstorm destroyed its buildings in 2005.
“One of our classroom blocks was at the verge of collapse.
Engineers recommended that we demolish it,†Mwebesa said.
Norman Lukum, the district education officer, hailed the Japanese government for the donation.
He said the district was facing challenges after it was disqualified from the School Facilities Grant (SFG).
“You have come to our rescue. The district was removed from the SFG and that was a terrible decision,†Lukum said.
The education ministry recently stopped sending the grant to distrcits that did not meet requirements.
He told the parents: “It is a shame that some parents have even failed to buy books and pencils for their children.â€
Ugandans have been urged to invest more in the education of children.
The Japanese ambassador, Keiichi Kato, said children were the future of the country.
“Japan attributes her industrialisation in the last 50 years to the high level of investment in education. Developing countries like Uganda, can reduce poverty through similar strategies,†Kato said.
He was on Thursday officiating at the commissioning of two classroom blocks, a two-in-one staff house, 14 stances of VIP latrines and 247 twin desks at Kihiire primary school in Bushenyi district.
Kato said the facilities were worth over 139m.
The project was funded by the Japanese Government through the Grant Assistance for Grass Root and Human Security Projects.
The ambassador said the donation follows an application for support from the school administration.
The school management committee chairman, Moses Mwebesa Rugunda, said they appealed for the support after a heavy hailstorm destroyed its buildings in 2005.
“One of our classroom blocks was at the verge of collapse.
Engineers recommended that we demolish it,†Mwebesa said.
Norman Lukum, the district education officer, hailed the Japanese government for the donation.
He said the district was facing challenges after it was disqualified from the School Facilities Grant (SFG).
“You have come to our rescue. The district was removed from the SFG and that was a terrible decision,†Lukum said.
The education ministry recently stopped sending the grant to distrcits that did not meet requirements.
He told the parents: “It is a shame that some parents have even failed to buy books and pencils for their children.â€