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Midlands Reporter
Japanese Ambassador Mr Toshiyuki Iwado has handed over completed school facilities worth over $89 000 to Musena Secondary School in Chirumhanzu District.

The completed school facilities in Ward 19 included three finished classroom blocks and a fence surrounding the school, signalling a historical development as pupils and teachers moved from makeshift classrooms to six modern classroom blocks with chairs and desks.

Speaking during the official handover ceremony, Mr Iwado said the completed school facilities were provided for through the Project for Improvement of the Educational Environment which was funded by Japan and implemented by a local non-governmental organisation, Local Initiatives and Development (LID) Agency.

“I am delighted to join you all to celebrate the handover of the new school facilities which include three furnished classroom blocks, chairs and desks provided for 198 students and a fence surrounding the school,” he said.

“The government of Japan extended a grant of $89 200 for this project in December 2018 under the Grants for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme.”

Mr Iwado said previously the 230 girls and boys and eight teachers from Musena Secondary School conducted their lessons under “very trying and unsuitable circumstances”.

“The goal of the project is not to just build new buildings, but to improve the education of the girls and boys of Musena and I hope with the help of new classroom blocks, the girls and boys of Musena will benefit more than they did previously and those currently out of school will also attend,” he said.

Mr Iwado praised the community who contributed their labour for the project.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima, in a speech read on his behalf by Midlands Province education director, Reverend Tedious Matienga, said that LID and the Japanese Embassy must be applauded for the life-changing project.