His Excellency Mr. Yukio Numata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga congratulated the completion of the Project at a handover ceremony held at Tonga College, ‘Atele. Hon. Penisimani Fifta, Minister for Education and Training along with Mr. Claude Tupou, CEO Ministry of Education and Mr. Maika Haupeakui, Deputy CEO Ministry of Finance and National Planning attended the handover ceremony along with government officials and the members of the Parents and Teachers Association of Tonga College, Teachers and students of Tonga College.
H.E Mr. Yukio Numata, who was greeted by over 800 students of the school and a large banner saying “ようこそ！！沼田大使(Welcome!! Ambassador Numata)” hung up on the new classroom building emphasized in his keynote address that he was happy to be able to take part in enhancing the quality of learning the technical course offers. He also expressed his joy and confidence that the warm and friendly relations between the school and Japan, which have developed through the dispatch of JICA volunteers and the rugby scholarship program benefiting students from Tonga College, will further strengthen with the completion of this project.
Hon. Penisimani Fifita, Minister for Education and Training thanked H.E Mr. Yukio Numata for Japan’s significant assistance in fulfilling the dreams of the technical student of Tonga College. The Minister mentioned in his speech that the new classroom will help the school in enabling the students to take up studies that are relevant to their needs and interests as well as opening up new and alternative opportunities for their futures.
The Parents and Teachers Association for Tonga College sought for Japan’s assistance to provide a safe and healthy education environment for the students of the technical course, which aims to lower the student dropout rate and equip the youth with technical and practical skills for their interest and future jobs.
Japans Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects was introduced in 1990 and to date have granted over 270 projects in different sectors throughout Tonga. The assistance epitomize also Japan’s commitment to support efforts by the People and the Government of Tonga to achieve its National Strategic Planning Framework, and strengthen the warm and close relations between the people and the Government of Japan and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.
H.E. Mr. Numata, Hon. Fifita and the students of Tonga College
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