Japanese government through the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) has granted $76,892 (about Rwf62m) to Kabgayi Technical School in Muhanga District for construction.

The grant will be allocated to construction of a two-storey building consisting of ten classrooms, two workshops, and store at the school.

Takayuki Miyashita, Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda said the project aims to improve learning environment and increase educational opportunities for the communities, which will accordingly contribute to reduce the unemployment in the area.

"Kabgayi Technical School is a Center of Excellence in Motor Vehicle Mechanics. It provides important courses and its contribution to the society is very important. So we are glad to support this important project, which will greatly contribute to one of the pillars of Vision 2020, namely human resource development and a knowledge-based economy,” he said.

Kabgayi technical school was opened in 1992 and has 820 students enrolled in three options namely motor vehicle mechanics, electricity and construction.

Vincent Sibomana, Legal Representative of the Association pour la Formation Professionnelle (A.F.P) which owns the school, welcomed the grant which he said will boost quality at the school.

"We realised that many children could not pursue their studies in mainstream education and decided to establish a technical and vocational training school to promote technical and vocational education in order to support the youth and reduce poverty,” he said.

"But we had not been able to set up required infrastructures. This support will have a positive impact in Rwanda society. Upon completion, these facilities will help to improve the quality of training due to improved learning environment,”

Since Grassroots Human Security Projects was established between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda and the Embassy of Japan in 1996, the government of Japan has supported various grass roots activities, specifically 86 projects worth more than $ 6 million, mainly in the areas of education, water and sanitation as well as agriculture.

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