February 3, 2009
A handover ceremony was held at Donkaen Noanpluay Wittaya School in Kalasin province, to mark the successful conclusion of the project “Reconstruction of Doankaen Noanpluay Wittaya School” on January 30, 2009. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Yuji Kumamaru, Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand, who delivered a congratulatory speech.
The project, formulated and implemented by the school, to reconstruct the dilapidated school building, was financed by Grant Assistance under the Grassroots Human Security Projects scheme (GGP).
Donkaen Noanpluay Wittaya School, located in an agricultural area of Khong Chai district, Kalasin province in northeastern Thailand, accommodates 121 students from the second grade of kindergarten to the sixth grade of elementary school. This public school was established in 1978, and its students actively participate in writing competitions and athletics meetings with great success, and have often been commended by the Education Office and the Regional Office.
On the other hand, the former school building, constructed thirty years ago, was dilapidated with leaking roofs, rotten wallboards and cracked pillars. Similarly, the restrooms were ramshackle and unsanitary, with some parts out of use.
The school had no library through which the students and local residents could gain access to new information. Due to its remoteness from the prefectural center and the poor condition of its old dormitories, the school failed to attract new teachers and trainee teachers with suitable knowledge and experience.
At the request of the school, the Government of Japan extended its support to the cost (3,256,400 baht in total) of reconstructing the school building. Through this support, the classrooms and restrooms have been reconstructed with an improved educational environment and sanitary conditions as well as safety in general.
The newly-constructed library will help the school to provide the local people with improved access to educational opportunities, and thus will benefit regional society. Furthermore, the renovation of the old dormitory for teachers will now attract fresh talent to contribute to improving the quality of education at the school.
All in all, the project aims to improve the educational environment of the region, eventually contributing to an increase in job opportunities, and thus encouraging regional development.
Through the GGP scheme, the Government of Japan is willing to continue its support for projects which contribute to the development of local communities and regional society, including support for a basic education.
