Minister Tomochika Uyama handed over to Sheikh Abdulkarim Garay the symbolic school key during the Turnover Ceremony of the Project for the Construction of Five Classroom Building at Ibn Tamiyah Foundation Academy, Inc held on June 17, 2010. The activity was also witnessed by (left to right) Major Carlos Sol of the GRP-CCCH, Dr. Ombra Imam of Ibn Tam i yah Foundation Academy, Hon. Mayor Tocao Mastura of Sultan Kudarat Municipality, BGen. HJ Mazlan Bin Abas, Deputy Chief of Mission of the International Monitoring Team and First Secretary Tomonori Kikuchi, Japanese Government's Socio-Development Expert dispatched to the IMT. |
Minister Tomochika Uyama together with the students and teachers of Ibn Tamiyah Foundation Academy and other special guests from the International Monitoring Team, Bangsamoro Development Agency, GRP-CCCH and the MILF-CCCH after the ceremonial turn-over of a school building project at Ibn Tamiyah Foundation Academy, Inc.. |
Minister for Economic Affairs Tomochika Uyama attended the turnover ceremony of “The Project for Construction of Five-classroom Building at Ibn Tamiyah Foundation Academy, Inc.” in Barangay Simuay , Sultan Kudarat on June 17, 2010.
This project is funded through the Embassy of Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) with a grant of 74, 556 US dollars (approximately 3.5 million pesos) . The project directly benefit s 254 students of Ibn Taimiyah Foundation Academy. Inc.
Ibn Tamiyah Foundation Academy, Inc. is providing education from the pre–school to the college level. It is a Madrasah that offe rs Islamic studies in Arabic. In the past, the Academy's high school students who wanted to pursue public education offered in English had to enroll in evening classes at other schools. Due to this inconvenience, the Academy, with the approval of the Department of Education, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM), introduced an English curriculum in 2002. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of classrooms, the Academy was not able to implement the new curriculum fully, and had to shorten the whole day schedule to a half day so that classes in all levels could be accommodated. In addition, some high school students had to endure overcrowded classrooms.
With the construction of the new building with five (5) classrooms, students can now enjoy an improved learning environment. Two hundred and fifty (250) desks with chairs have also been provided by the grant.
Minister Uyama said in his speech, “I would like to encourage students to study harder and learn necessary English skills as well as the traditional Islamic values under the improved learning condition in this Madrasah.”
This project has been implemented under the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD). The Government of Japan launched the J-BIRD in December 2006 as part of its commitment to support peace and development efforts in Mindanao. The J-BIRD has assisted the construction and/or rehabilitation of school buildings, training centers, health centers and water supply systems through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects. As of March 2010, 40 grassroots projects have been implemented under the J-BIRD with a total amount of approximately 2.8 Million US Dollars.
Speech of Minister Tomochika Uyama
Japanese Version
