Students at Highgate Primary and Junior High in St Mary and Middleton Primary School in St Thomas will soon be able to enjoy improved facilities at their respective institutions through the assistance of the Japanese Government.

Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica Masanori Nakano recently signed two grant contracts with the St Mary and St Thomas schools, valued at $14 million and $10 million, respectively, during a ceremony at his official residence at Paddington Terrace in Kingston. The funds are being made available under the Japan Embassy’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Project.

Highgate Primary and Junior High School Principal Adassa Henry said the grant would be used to construct two classrooms that will solve the school’s overcrowding issue.

Henry, while expressing gratitude to the Japanese Government, said that since the school’s removal from the shift system in 2015, no infrastructure has been put it place to facilitate the change.

Consequently, the school has been grappling with the lack of space and a constant level of noise that inhibits learning, Henry said.

In an effort to combat the challenges, the principal said that chalkboards have been used to separate open classes. She said too that the school’s library and computer lab have been transformed into classrooms.

Middleton Primary School Principal Jennifer Crawford, who was also grateful for the donation, said that the construction of a canteen played an integral role in the life and function of the school.

“A well-planned canteen give students and staff high energy and prevent disease such as obesity and anaemia, which are related to poor diet,” Crawford said.

In his keynote address, the Japanese ambassador said the Government of Japan’s Development Cooperation Character of 2016 places prominence on development cooperation as a mechanism for mobilising a wide range of resources and activities designed to promote basic human rights and humanitarian assistance as well as human security, which focuses on protection and empowerment of people.

Nakano, while noting that the main focus of the programme is to prevent students from getting left behind, said everyone should be empowered to achieve sustainable development and inclusive growth.

“It is why we are working with teachers and staff at your respective schools, as well as personnel from the Ministry of Education, to provide you with a better school environment. I take this opportunity to reiterate our genuine hope to work with you to further improve the educational environment for our most precious treasures, our children,” Nakano said, adding that education is the key to developing the nation and reducing crime.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education Ruel Reid said that the donations reflected the strong partnership between Jamaica and Japan.

Reid said both countries have held a strong bilateral relationship since 1964 and that the relationship has improved over the years through its teacher exchange programme.

He explained that the Japanese Embassy signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education in April 2015, to collaborate on development projects.

The project, he said, is designed to meet the needs of primary school development, particularly those with the greatest problems.

Besides Highgate Primary and Junior High and Middleton Primary, two classrooms at Happy Grove High School in Portland were reopened.

Reid, while applauding the Government of Japan, said the partnership has improved the lives of the nation’s children.

— Racquel Porter