Japan has signed an agreement to provide over $300,000 in grants for the construction of primary school buildings and the procurement of prosthetic limbs and physiotherapy equipment in Oddar Meanchey, Kratie and Phnom Penh.
Contracts for the grants were signed by Japanese ambassador Ueno Atsushi and the representatives of the respective provincial education departments on March 6.
A primary school building in Oddar Meanchey’s Banteay Ampil district will cost over $120,000, according to a March 6 press release by the embassy.
A five-room building will be built and equipped with furniture at Romdoul Primary School in Oddar Meanchey. The current building is in poor condition, and this is negatively affecting the students and staff of the school.
“This project aims to bring about a safer and more comfortable learning environment. It is expected to benefit around 220 students and nine teachers and improve the quality of education,” it said.
A five-room building at Phnom Ror El Primary School in Kratie’s Preak Prosob district will also be built, at an estimated cost of just over $91,000.
“This will include the installation of school furniture like desks, chairs and whiteboards. This will provide a welcome update to the current dilapidated condition. 266 students and seven teachers will benefit,” added the release.
“Equipment used to produce prostheses and physiotherapy equipment will also be purchased for the Kien Khleang physical rehabilitation centre in Phnom Penh. At a cost of $89,000, eleven separate machines will be installed at the facility,” it continued.
It said the center has been facing some challenges due to the deterioration of necessary equipment to produce prostheses and orthotics, as well as a lack of the physiotherapy equipment used for rehabilitation.
“By providing this equipment, the centre will be capable of producing prostheses and orthotics in a shorter period. It will also be able to provide better rehabilitation services,” it added.
“We expect about 900 clients a year will benefit from the additional equipment,” said the release.
“I am pleased to see Cambodia’s recent rapid development, but I recognise that there are still some challenges that need to be addressed to improve people’s quality of life,” Atsushi said at the signing ceremony.
He assured the attendees that Japan will continue to contribute to addressing these challenges through various official development assistance schemes, including Kusanone grants.
