Japan to Fund Lilongwe TTC Construction

ILONGWE: The Japanese Government has reiterated its commitment towards improving education standards in the country saying this is the heart of enhanced development.

Japanese Ambassador to Malawi Fujio Samukawa said this after signing a K 4.2 billion grant for construction of a teacher training college in Lilongwe.

The funding comes ahead of the forth coming fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development-TICAD 5 aimed where leaders will brainstorm African and Japanese development strides.

Speaking after exchanging notes with Malawi’s Finance Minister Dr Ken Lipenga, Ambassador Samukawa said the Japanese government is committed to help Malawi in its development strides.

“For Malawi to fully develop, needs to invest heavily in the education sector, hence, this support from the Japanese government.”

“We are committed to help Malawi as a development partner in its strides towards socio-economic development,” he said.

He rated education sector as one of the priority areas in Japan’s Country Assistance Strategy for Malawi which was formulated.

“In this regard, the Government of Japan decided to extend a grant assistance of about $ 11 million to the government of Malawi for the project of construction of a Teacher Training College for secondary school teachers in Lilongwe under the Japanese Grant for Community Empowerment,” he said.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Mr. Mcphil Magwira could, however, not tell specifically when the construction of the college would start.—Zodiak Malawi