U Kyaw Than, Administrative Officer of the Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ), told Mizzima that 20 Elementary schools will be built in Rakhine state with the help of the Nippon Foundation, on August 15. They will be completed during the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
U Kyaw Than said, “Priority will be given to poor and underdeveloped townships. The agreement to build schools with the Nippon Foundation has been signed already. The schools will be built at Gwa, Thandwei, Sittwe and Kyaukhpyu townships. There are not enough school in Rakhine state.”
Besides the 20 schools, there are plans to build more schools in Rakhine state. For building the schools about $6 million will be donated by the Nippon Foundation. An officer-in-charge of BAJ said they will build schools in 17 townships of Rakhine state.
He said, “At present, Rakhine state is the 2nd most under-developed state in Myanmar. Therefore, schools will be built with the assistance of Nippon Foundation. The schools will be completed in the current fiscal year.”
U Min Lwin Myo, a resident of Kyakphyu, said that building schools in Rakhine state is a good move as there is an acute need for schools.
U Kyaw Than said that in spite of the conflict in Rakhine state, ten school have been built in Sittwe, Kyaukdaw, Ponenar Kyun, Mrauk-Oo and Pauktaw townships.
