Samauga and Lefagaoali’i Primary School has become the latest recipient of the generosity of Japan through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (G.G.P).

Yesterday was the official handing over ceremony of “The Project for Reconstruction of Samauga and Lefagaoalii Primary School”, a G.G.P. Project.

The grant contract for this project was signed in December 2016, worth $247,951.

The grant was for the construction of a four room block - to be used as two classrooms, a staff room and a library/laboratory - a toilet block and tiling of all the floor spaces in the existing and the new buildings.

The new school building will help solve the problem of overcrowding and meeting minimum standard for school environment promulgated by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.).

The school has a roll of 244 students with 11 teachers including the principal which caters for students from two villages in Savai’i, namely Samauga and Lefagaoali’i.

During the handover ceremony, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Samoa, Shinya Aoki congratulated Samauga and Lefagaoalii Primary School for the successful completion of the project and shared his wish that with continue support from the community the students will improve their academic performance and achieve their dreams.

In his speech, he reiterated on the continue support provided through by the Government of Japan.

“Japan will continue to provide support to development projects at the grassroots level through its GGP aligned with the key outcomes that needs improvement in Strategy for Development of Samoa (SDS)” he said.

In addition to other development projects, Japan is an active partner in the development of education sector. The 26 years GGP scheme focus on small scale projects directly benefitting the grassroots level as well as contributing in the socio- economic development of Samoa.