Inauguration Ceremony for the Project to Expand the Liqa School and  the Sore Homba Primary School at the Liqa School
in Soddo, Wolaita Zone, SNNPRS on 14 September, 2013

Your Excellency W/ro Roman Tesfaye, First Lady of the FDRE,
Ato Eyob Watte, Chief Administrator of the Wolaita Zone,
Distinguished Guests,
Teachers and Students of the Liqa School,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Endemen Walachehu.  Lo-Peideti, Lo-Haimare.

I am most grateful to all of you for your very warm welcome today. This is my second trip to Soddo and seventh trip to the SNNPRS.

It is a great pleasure for me to have this opportunity to join you to inaugurate the expansion of two schools here in Wolaita.  It is an additional pleasure that Her Excellency W/ro Roman could join us today for this ceremony.  This project was funded by Japan’s grant-in-aid for grassroots human security projects (GGPs), with the amount of about 111,000 USD, based upon the grant contract signed in March 2012.  Our project partner is the Wolaita Development Association, a most competent Ethiopian organization, which has been engaged with various educational projects in the Wolaita Zone for many years.

Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is a project that brings back many memories for me.  It was in early October 2011 that a project proposal was suddenly presented by Ato Altaye Ayele while I was visiting Wolaita to inaugurate the Zebo School expansion project.  Upon receiving the proposal, my GGP coordinator at that time, Shoko, was very quick and effective in working with Ato Altaye to prepare a more concrete proposal in just three weeks to submit to Tokyo for approval.  This was probably a record.  The deadline was just around the corner.  With Tokyo’s approval, we came to sign the grant contract in early March 2012.  It had only been four months since we submitted our recommendation to Tokyo.  This was also very quick.  During the implementation phase, a problem occurred over a change in plan, which is now settled.  Therefore, I am pleased to be able to return here today to celebrate the inauguration of this project.

The Liqa School was established by the Wolaita Development Association in Soddo Town in 2007, funded by Japan’s grant-in-aid for grassroots human security projects in JFY 2005.  After a while, the school was expanded to provide secondary education too.  Half of the students are orphans, and they enjoy free education together with students from poor families.  Despite their background, this is the leading school in the SNNPRS with a prominent record in the national exam.  However, the existing school facilities were not sufficient to meet the high demand for secondary education in the Wolaita Zone.

The Sore Homba Primary School was established in Sore Homba Village, Boloso Sore Woreda in 2003 as the first primary school in the village.  Around 2,000 students used to study in 11 classrooms, and the number of students per class was over 90.  The overcrowded classrooms were having a negative effect on the quality of education.

Therefore, this project aimed at improving the access to and quality of education at these two schools.  Through this project, one block with two fully furnished classrooms, one library block and a block of latrines have been newly constructed at the Liqa School, while one school block with four fully furnished classrooms and a block of latrines have been built at the Sore Homba Primary School.  As a result, about 160 students from poor families now have access to secondary education at the Liqa School, and the number of students per class is reduced to 67 at the Sore Homba Primary School.

By the way, the Wolaita Development Association has a long working relationship with us through our GGP scheme.  It dates back to 2002, when we extended the first grant for the Bakulo Sagno Primary School project.  Then we worked together on another five school projects in the Wolaita Zone one by one, namely the Suke Bakala Primary School, the Yukara Primary School, the Soddo Primary School (later renamed as the Liqa School), the Bitena Primary School, and the Zebo School.  Therefore, the Liqa School and Sore Homba Primary School expansion project marks the seventh grassroots human security project that our Embassy has funded through our GGP scheme.  It is a great honor for us to have been able to contribute to improving the educational environment for young boys and girls in the Wolaita Zone.

Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The newly built school blocks are now formally handed over to the respective communities.  I am confident that you will make the most use of them and enjoy great benefits.  At the same time, please keep in mind that it is equally important to maintain the facilities in good condition so that the schools will serve the local interests for a long time.  Finally, I do hope that we can work together again in the future for the economic and social benefit of underprivileged people in rural areas of Ethiopia.

Amesegenalehu.  Toshimo.