The Government of Japan provides grant assistance for Establishment of a Commercial High-School in Southern Thailand

From left : M.P. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, President of the PrateepsassanaIslamic School Foundation for Educational Development (PFED) and H.E. Mr. Atsushi Tokinoya, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand.

The Government of Japan, extends Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Scheme (GGP), to a project titled “Establishing a Commercial School in the South of Thailand.”

H.E. Mr. Atsushi Tokinoya, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand, and M.P. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, President of the Prateepsassana Islamic School Foundation for Educational Development (PFED), jointly signed the funding contract, on March 4, 2005.

Many Muslim people live in the South of Thailand. Muslim parents generally prefer to send their children to Islamic schools in order to instill basic Islamic values and ethical standards; however, even though there are many Islamic schools, none offers a curriculum of vocational training or technical skills which are useful for daily life. Accordingly, comparison with other areas, Muslim residents living in the South have less opportunity to receive vocational training and so find gainful employment. This is thought to be a significant factor contributing to poverty in the South. Against this back ground, Muslim people have long waited to establish a school in which Muslim children can receive vocational education.

At the request of the PFED, the Japanese Government will fund the establishment of a commercial school for high school students in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The school, opening in May 2006, will offer courses in Accounting, Marketing, and Business Computer Studies. The total grant assistance is US$ 193,898, or approximately 7.5 million baht.

It is expected that this assistance may enable Muslim students, though vocational training, to acquire practical occupational skills and enhance their employment opportunities. We expect that this measure will help poverty reduction in the South in the mid- and long-term. The Embassy of Japan in Thailand is willing to continue assisting projects that contribute to stability and poverty alleviation in the South of Thailand.

For more information about GGP, please contact:Mr. Inoue, Second Secretary and Ms. Ashida, StaffEmbassy of Japan,1674 New Petchburi road, Bangkok 10320Telephone: 0-2252-6151 ext. 247, 249 Facsimile: 0-2255-6999

Source : Embassy of Japan in Thailand