Moataa Primary School will enjoy a convenient, safe and healthy learning environment this
academic year with their new school building, thanks to the generosity of the Government of
Japan through its Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP).
The official handover ceremony of “The Project for Reconstruction of Moataa Primary
School” was held earlier today (1 March) at the school compound.
His Excellency, SENTA Keisuke, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to
Samoa, represented his Government at the ceremony attended by the Minister of Education,
Sports and Culture, Hon. Seuula Ioane Tuuau, Member of Parliament for Vaimauga No.2,
Hon. Lenatai Victor Faafoi Tamapua, Representative from the Ministry of Education, Sports
and Culture, School Committee, villagers, chiefs and orators, students, teachers and parents.
The school committee received funds totalling USD136,015 (SAT352,279.20) in January
2020, which enabled the project implementation of reconstruction of a new school two-story
building consisting of 16 classrooms, principal room and a toilet block at its new location.
Moata’a Primary School was founded in 1952 and its former school building was in place in
the 1980s which has been serving the village school for the past 40 plus years. It has survived
many natural disasters and has undergone several major repair works which became more
costly for the village and School Committee to maintain.
Japan believes that education provides the human resources needed for social and economic
development and also contributes to poverty reduction by improving the capacity of
individuals to make a living. Thus, the Government of Japan has decided to make every effort
to prioritize the development of basic education by improving and upgrading school facilities
across Samoa.
The GGP aims to aid self-supporting socio-economic development activities that benefit
sectors which include education at the grassroots level in Samoa.
Many rural communities have benefitted from the GGP which indicates Japan’s continuous
commitment to contribute to the improvement of the living standards and welfare of the
people of Samoa which continues to enrich the warmly existing partnership and friendship of
the two nations, Japan and Samoa.