The Government of Japan has decided to extend a grant assistance of three hundred million Japanese Yen (¥300,000,000), which is equivalent to two hundred forty nine million and nine hundred thousand Nepalese rupees (NRs. 249,900,000), to the Government of Nepal for the implementation of the School Sector Reform Program (SSRP) in Japan’s FY 2015.

Two separate Notes were signed and exchanged between Masashi Ogawa, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Suman Prasad Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of their respective governments.

Education is an investment in human capital and serves as the foundation for nation's sustainable economic and social development. It eradicates and breaks the cycle of poverty, thus enabling nation building.  Therefore, it is expected that this budgetary support from Japan to Nepal will have the outcome of overcoming a variety of difficulties related to poverty alleviation efforts.

According to a press release issued by Japanese Embassy, the Government of Japan has supported Nepal in the education sector since FY 1994.  Over the past decade, the grants extended were for the construction of classrooms and provision of other facilities. Nine thousand five hundred (9,500) classrooms were constructed, and other facilities provided. Various technical assistance projects such as the Project for Support for Improvement of Primary School Management (SISM II) have also been implemented through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).  Although the budgetary support provided to the Government of Nepal in the education sector started only since FY 2014, the Embassy of Japan has been extending financial support to local NGOs and INGOs from FY 1992 for the implementation of different grassroots projects, including education. 

On the occasion of the Note signing, Ambassador Ogawa expressed his firm expectation that the grant extended would be contributing in a time when the country is facing great damage and loss to the education sector. He expressed his assurance of Japan’s willingness to support Nepal’s efforts in the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction based on the concept “Build Back Better (BBB)” as well as in accelerating the sustainable development.  Ambassador Ogawa further expressed this would play a substantial role in strengthening the existing bilateral relations between Japan and Nepal.