Japan extends $84,397 grant for promotion of primary education
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—The Embassy of Japan today extended US $ 84,397 (approx. 5 million Rupees) to Qandeel Model Public School in Quetta, Balochistan. The grant has been extended to "The Project for Expansion of Qandeel Model Public School in Quetta". Mr. Nobuaki Tanaka, Ambassador of Japan, signed the grant contract in this regard with Ms. Noshaba Shafique, Principal of the school.
Japan considers Balochistan a priority region for grant assistance. Qandeel Model Public School that endeavours to provide quality education to the under privileged communities at minimum cost was provided a sum of US $ 65,878 in 2003 by Japan. The assistance was used to upgrade the primary section of the school in order to accommodate more children and thus to expand the benefits of formal education to the local community.
Through Japan's support this time, the school will be upgraded to the high school level through provision of proper infrastructure. The assistance will enable construction of 13 classrooms, a library, a laboratory and a computer room along with all necessary furniture. The school will also be provided 20 sets of computers, printers, scanners and a projector. The project aims to provide quality education to the local children, presently being deprived of their basic right to education due to inaccessibility to educational institutions in the area.
The school plans to provide low cost but high quality education to the students up to high school level and free education for special children. Through the project it is estimated that 1,000 children will benefit through the availability of proper space and appropriate educational facilities. Albeit, indirectly, children of some 60,000 local families would be ensured quality primary education in a congenial environment.
The grant has been provided under Japan's "Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)". The scheme that was initiated in 1989 and Japan has so far extended a sum of US$ 12,248,688 to 230 small-scale social sector development projects all over Pakistan.