Japan supports improving learning environment for students at 26 schools in Vietnam

The Embassy of Japan in Vietnam said on March 27 that the signing ceremony of the aid contract for the project "Improving the learning environment from a gender equality perspective in primary and secondary schools in Ha Giang and Lai Chau provinces" (first year) was recently held in Hanoi.

The project is within the framework of the Japanese government's non-governmental joint grant aid for fiscal year 2024.

The project will include the construction and repair of dormitories and the installation of sanitation facilities at 26 primary and secondary schools in Meo Vac and Yen Minh districts of Ha Giang province and Sin Ho district of Lai Chau province. The project is expected to provide children with a learning environment that is consistent with a gender equality perspective and reinforces correct knowledge about reproductive health and rights.

The total cost of the project is estimated at more than 250 million yen (about 42.4 billion VND), and is expected to be implemented over three years from March 2025 to February 2028. In the first year, a grant of about 15.7 billion VND has been signed to implement the project.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki speaks at the signing ceremony of the project aid contract. (Photo: Embassy of Japan in Vietnam/VNA)

According to Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki, in Japan's development cooperation policy towards Vietnam, in addition to supporting infrastructure construction to promote economic growth and training human resources to strengthen governance, Japan also focuses on the health and education sectors to support poverty reduction and reduce the gap for "vulnerable" groups in society.

“I feel that this project is very meaningful because it can improve the problems that students in primary and secondary schools in mountainous areas are facing such as: inadequate schools and dormitories, and at the same time provide opportunities to access knowledge about gender equality and reproductive health. I hope that this project will be implemented firmly and be evaluated as a successful model project in the field of education," said Ambassador Ito Naoki.

Delegates take souvenir photos at the signing ceremony. (Photo: Embassy of Japan in Vietnam/Mekong Asean)

Ms. Yurie Mizukami, Program Manager of Plan International Japan - a non-governmental organization that signed the project, said that this is the fourth project that Plan International Japan has coordinated with the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam to implement in Vietnam. This project will be implemented in 26 primary and secondary schools, with the goal of reaching and sharing knowledge with about 10,000 students, teachers, 3,680 parents and about 100 local officials.

A notable point within the project framework is to encourage the active participation of students, especially ethnic minority students, in learning activities, communication and policy proposals. Children will not only be beneficiaries but also become the subjects creating a better learning environment, contributing to promoting comprehensive sex education in the locality.

This is an activity to support the provision of official development assistance (ODA) to Japanese international non-governmental organizations to implement socio-economic development projects at the grassroots level, where support from local governments or international organizations is difficult to access, through practical activities, meeting the socio-economic development needs of local people in developing areas.

Since 2002, the Japanese Government has implemented 96 non-refundable aid cooperation projects linking non-governmental organizations in Vietnam with a total aid amount of approximately 2.4 billion yen. Today's signing ceremony is the 97th project, bringing the total amount to 2.45 billion yen.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhat-ban-supports-education-environment-support-for-students-in-26-schools-o-viet-nam-post868146.html