August 28th, 2015
-
Japan GGP official commissioning for Upgrading Longomapu GPS, Vava’u
-
On August 19th 2015, the Government of Japan and the Longomapu Government Primary School celebrated the official commissioning of the upgraded classroom facility for the school, funded through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects, or GGP.
H.E His Excellency Mr. Yukio Numata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga attended the commissioning ceremony in Vava’u on behalf of the people and the Government of Japan. Present at the ceremony were Hon. Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, Minister for Health who is also the People’s Representative for Vava’u Constituency #14 in the Parliament, and Mr. Claude Tupou, Acting CEO for the Ministry of Education and Training, among others.
His Excellency Mr. Numata, in his keynote address congratulated the completion of the project and emphasized the essential role of education to combat poverty and inequality and at the same time to lay foundation for sustainable economic growth. “Children of Longomapu GPS are fortunate to have a Parents and Teachers’ Association that is active in ensuring their rights to education is attained,” stated the Ambassador. The Ambassador also planted 3 native plants of Tonga at the Longomapu Government Primary School front yard garden, and gave each of them a Japanese name. The first plant, a heilala was named “Yuujo (Friendship)”, the second plant an ahi was named “Mirai(Future)”, and “Yume(Dream)” for the last plant which was also an ahi.
Mr. Claude Tupou, Acting CEO for Tonga’s Ministry of Education and Training acknowledged the assistance from the Government of Japan in upgrading a safer and healthier education environment for the students of Longomapu. The Longomapu GPS was established in 1961, and in 2014 sought for Japan’s assistance through GGP. The commissioning ceremony marks the completion of an upgraded classroom building and the construction of a fence around the school compound, as well as installation of 2 water tanks. ( kindly refer to project factsheet for detail of the assistance).
The Government of Japan by 2014 has implemented more than 134 educational projects through GGP in Tonga.END.
Project Fact Sheet (PDF)