DIPLOMATIC ASSISTANCE

Japan to hand over new facilities to Nadi Centre for Special Education today

The government of Japan provided FJ$180,000 to the Nadi Centre for Special Education for the construction of a three-classroom block with school furniture and a four-pan toilet block.

This project was implemented under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme.

Tsuguyoshi Hada, Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan, will hand over the facilities at 12pm today, at the centre.

Basis for Implementing the Project

The centre’s three-classroom wooden building was more than 26 years old and was previously used as staff quarters by the Public Works Department.

These were demolished in 1989 and thereafter converted to a three-classroom block for the Nadi Centre for Special Education.

The deteriorating condition of the school building was an Occupational Health and Safety hazard with rotting floors and walls, leaking roofs and indication of structural failure, particularly felt during strong winds and rainy weather. Furthermore, the growing number of students had also resulted in overcrowding, hence creating an environment that was not conducive to teaching and learning.

The centre’s toilet block also required urgent upgrading to serve the special needs of the students. The centre was not able to raise the required funds to upgrade the facilities as most funding received from the Government and donors were directed towards the educational needs of students and general maintenance of the existing buildings and compound.

Overview of the GGP Programme in Fiji

The GGP programme is part of the overall Japanese ODA implemented by the Embassy of Japan in order to empower the people and the community from the grassroots level. The programme in Fiji has been widely implemented in areas like education, water supply, health, transportation, IT, agriculture and fisheries since 1990. To date, more than 359 projects have been implemented under the programme, which amount to an approximate value exceeding USD$24 million (FJ$42.60m).

Source: Japanese Embassy