http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Japan supports education projects in Yemen [The Source: SANA'A/hadhramaut.infor/sabanews.net - 23/08/2010] Japan has decided to extend two grants amounting to US$197,070 for two education projects in Hamdan District of Sana’a province and in Al-Manar District of Dhamar province. The two grants were under the scheme called “Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects” which aims at supporting small-scale community-based projects in basic human needs fields, such as primary health care and basic education in the developing countries.Mr. Mitsunori Namba, Japanese ambassador to Yemen and Mr. Nagi Al-Shei’ani, Chair of the Local Council of Hamdan District and Ms. Hajir Muhsin Thabit, Chairwoman of Zahra Women's Association in Dhamar, signed the contracts at the Embassy in Sana’a. The grant to Hamdan is for constructing a new building for Al-Mahjar School for about 450 students. The current building is dangerously about to collapse. But due to shortage of classrooms, the students are studying in poor condition.The grant to Al-Manar is for constructing a new building for the 7th July School for about 170 boys and girls who are studying in a house owned by one of the community people. The current building is too small to accommodate all children.Many of students are studying outside and others are forced to stay at home. The projects in both schools will provide healthy and safe learning environment and help to increase high enrollment rates for the pupils.In the last Japanese fiscal year, Japan has funded 18 projects in Yemen under the Grass-Roots scheme with a total amount of US$ 1.5 million.