JAPAN is building new classrooms and staff houses for Panarui School in Choiseul at a total funding of $589,929.75.
The funding was handed over to the school authority on Thursday in Honiara.
“This project aims to provide better learning environment for the children of Panarui community,” Japanese ambassador Kenichi Kimiya said during the hand-over ceremony.
“The Japanese government is happy to assist you with the funding to improve your school,” Mr Kimiya told the school’s principal Lincoln Galo and Panarui the province’s chief education officer.
The funding assistance was sourced under the Japanese Embassy’s Grassroots and Human Security Project.
“We believe education plays a key role for development therefore this project will have positive impact on producing a large number of human resources in Choiseul and moreover, it will lead to further development and prosperity of the entire country for many years to come.”
Mr Kimiya added that out of the 100 proposals coming from all the provinces, Panarui School is one of the eight successful ones.
Principal Mr Galo said the assistance was timely.
“Since its establishment, Panarui School has always been in need of a classroom building and staff houses for its secondary teachers,” Mr Galo said.
“Today it is happiness and joy within the community, that they will own a new double story classroom building with new staff houses,” he added.
“Japanese has been our long-time friend that funded more infrastructures in Choiseul and this was its fifth project as I know.”
Mr Galo said the assistance demonstrates the cordial relationship between the good people of Japan and the people of Solomon Islands especially the rural community of Panarui village secondary school.
“Thank you Japan for your help.”
Established in 1963, Panarui today runs both primary and secondary streams.
It served students mostly from its surrounding communities.
By LESLEY SANGA
