Inauguration ceremonies for the Project for the Expansion of the Roman Dega Kedida Primary School, Kambata Tambaro Zone, SNNPRS, and for the Project for the Expansion of the Zebo Primary School, Wolaitta Zone, SNNPRS, were held on Saturday 8 October 2011 and on Sunday 9 October 2011 respectively. These projects were funded by the Japanese Grant-in-aid Scheme for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), amounting to a total of USD 207,558. H.E. Mr. Hiroyuki KISHINO, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, and Mr. Takao Ishii, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, celebrated the completion of the school blocks, together with W/ro Roman Tesfaye and representatives of the Kambata Tambaro Zone and the Wolaitta Zone, as well as with members of the communities.

In both inauguration ceremonies, H.E. Hiroyuki KISHINO, the Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia expressed congratulations when handing over the two education projects to the community and the Woreda, which were completed on time by the two Ethiopian NGOs, with support from the community. The residents, particularly PTA members, participated by offering their labor and construction materials. The Ambassador also expressed the hope that the community would make the most use of these newly built blocks and enjoy great benefits. He added that it is important that the school facilities should be maintained in good condition to serve the local interests for a long time. In addition, His Excellency said he hoped that the Embassy of Japan could work together with the organizations and communities in the future for the economic and social benefit of underprivileged people in rural areas of Ethiopia.

The GGP scheme was first introduced in 1989, and thus it has a history of 21 years to date. In Ethiopia, since 1997, around 300 projects have been implemented under this scheme in such sectors as education, water supply, health services, and other basic human needs. In 2011 JFY (April 2011 – March 2012), the Embassy of Japan is planning to award grants to 18 projects submitted by various not-for-profit organizations and local authorities throughout Ethiopia for the economic and social benefit of underprivileged people in rural areas.  One of the characteristics of GGPs is that they are directly beneficial to local residents.

1. The Expansion of the Roman Dega Kedida Primary School, Kambata Tambaro Zone, SNNPRS (USD 101,180, signed on 8 December 2010)
2. the Gogota Care Kambata Tambaro Peoples’ Development Association-Durame

In this project, the Embassy of Japan supported the Roman Dega Kedida Primary School in the Kedida Gamela Woreda, which was established in 1977 and renovated in 2008 with support from an international NGO. Thanks to this renovation, 5 blocks with 18 classrooms have been available at the school. However, each class now comprises over 100 students since the school currently has around 3,500 students from G1-G8. In addition, there is no library or pedagogical center. Partly for these reasons, not only is the dropout rate relatively high in this school but the rate of passes in the national examination at the G8 level is also low, compared with other schools in the Woreda.
In these circumstances, the GGP project aimed to improve the educational environment by increasing the number of usable classrooms and by establishing educational facilities such as a pedagogical center and a library at the school. A block with four classrooms has been newly constructed and fully furnished with ninety-two combined desks, four blackboards, and four teachers’ desks and chairs. As a result, the average number of students per class will be reduced from 105 to 78, and the overcrowding in classes will be improved. In addition, a block for a library and a pedagogical center has been constructed and fully furnished with ten shelves, ten tables, and fifty chairs. This will contribute to a better educational environment not only for students but also for teachers as they will be able to prepare educational materials at the pedagogical center and also have access to proper books and references in and out of lessons. What is more, in this project, a dry pit latrine with five rooms for girls has been constructed as well.
This project was implemented by the Gogota Care Kambata Tambaro Peoples’ Development Association-Durame, which has been working for Kambata, in collaboration with the local residents.

2. The Expansion of the Zebo Primary School, Wolaitta Zone, SNNPRS (USD 106,378, signed on 15 March 2011)
-  Wolaitta Development Association
In this project, the Embassy of Japan supported the Zebo Primary School in the Kindo Didaye Woreda, which was established in 1981 by the community and now comprises around 1,200 students from G1-G8. Although there are three blocks with eight classrooms at the school, two blocks of these are too old to use, and the number of students in each classroom is over 80.
In these circumstances, this project aimed at improving the educational environment by increasing the number of usable classrooms at the school. Two blocks with eight classrooms have been newly constructed. All classrooms have been equipped with new blackboards, desks and chairs.  As a result, the average number of students per class will be reduced from about 80 to 40, which is within the government standard, and the days of the overcrowded class will be gone.
This project was implemented by the Wolaitta Development Association. This Association has been extensively engaged in about 30 school projects in this zone since 2000. The Embassy of Japan has also been involved, enjoying a long partnership with the Association through its grant-in-aid scheme for grassroots human security projects. The Embassy’s first encounter with the Association dates back to 2002 when a grant was extended for the Baqlo Sanyo Primary School project. Then the Embassy and the Association worked together on another four school projects in the Wolaitta Zone one by one, (the Suke Bakala Primary School, the Yukara Primary School, the Soddo Primary School, and the Bitena Primary School). The Zebo School is the sixth GGP project implemented by the Association with a GGP grant.