May 11, 2006
 Handover Ceremony of Saraswati Primary School to the School Management Committee, Dumre, Palpa District
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His Excellency Mr. Tsutomu Hiraoka, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal inaugurated and handed over the Saraswati Primary School Building to the School Management Committee, amidst a function held at Masyam VDC, Palpa.
The Embassy of Japan has extended a grant of sixty-eight thousand, two hundred and eighty-eight US Dollars (US$68,288), equivalent to four million, eight hundred and four thousand, seven hundred and forty-four Nepalese Rupees (NRs. 4,804,744) to Masyam Village Development Committee for the implementation of the Project for Construction of Saraswati Primary School Building in Masyam VDC, Palpa District. This project falls in Japan's fiscal year 2005 under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme of the Government of Japan and was for the construction of a two and a half storey building with 10 rooms for classrooms and teachers' rooms and separate toilet facilities. The grant also covered the procurement of furniture for the classrooms, library and school office.
Out of the total project cost of NRs. 6,412,122, Masyam VDC, the school and the community contributed up to 25 percent of the cost; which included locally available material required for construction, as well as and labor costs etc. Similarly, the procurement of reference and text books for the library, the construction of a water tank and partial cost of toilet construction, amongst other things, was also borne by the VDC, school and local community.
It is to be noted that the Government of Japan provided grant aid to His Majesty's Government of Nepal for the construction of a total of 5,498 classrooms in 25 districts under the Basic and Primary Education Program, BPEP I (FY 1994 - 1997) and BPEP II (1999 - 2001). In addition, since FY 2003, Japan has been supporting the construction of primary schools in support of the goal of "Education for All" by 2015 set by His Majesty's Government of Nepal to enable improved access for primary students and to enable an increased quality of basic and primary education in 15 districts.
Speaking at the ceremony, H.E. Hiraoka stressed the need to promote education for the economic and social development of Nepal. Furthermore, he expressed his belief that Saraswati Primary School, with an improved learning environment and with easy access now accorded to the students, villagers and other people in the region, will be able to create awareness of the benefits of education. Additionally, H.E. Hiraoka expressed his hope that the project will signify the wishes of the Government of Japan and its people for the promotion of the well being of the Nepalese people, symbolizing a long-lasting relationship of friendship and cooperation between Japan and Nepal at the people's level.
It is to be noted that this year marks the 50th Anniversary of Establishment of Diplomatic Relation between Japan and Nepal. Japan, as a close friend and development partner of Nepal, has been assisting His Majesty's Government of Nepal for several decades in its efforts to alleviate poverty and achieve sustainable economic development through economic and technical cooperation.
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