The Government of Japan will provide approximately $100,400 (6.4 million meticais) to improve teaching and learning conditions at the Escola Primária Completa 4 de Outubro in the municipality of Matola, Maputo province, according to the Lusa news agency.

The project will be implemented by the Community Association for Human Development (ASSCODECHA) under Japan's grant assistance programme for community projects. It covers the construction of seven classrooms, sanitation facilities, and the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure.

Japan's Ambassador to Mozambique, Keiji Hamada, said the support reflects the country's commitment to bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of human and social development and improving education quality.

"Japan has been supporting Mozambique in various priority areas, with particular emphasis on human and social development, including improving the quality of education," Hamada said during the signing of the grant agreement.

The intervention includes two blocks housing seven classrooms, each with a capacity of 50 students, equipped with desks and wheelchair-accessible ramps. The project also provides for the expansion and rehabilitation of existing rooms, as well as the construction of two sanitation blocks, each with four toilets for boys and two for girls.

ASSCODECHA Executive Director Amândio Fondo said the initiative aims to improve learning conditions for children, particularly those living in vulnerable circumstances in the Itaca neighbourhood of Matola.

"The signing of this agreement represents a shared commitment to the right to education and to the creation of better opportunities for children, particularly those living in vulnerable situations," Fondo said.

Fondo noted that the shortage of classrooms, desks, accessibility ramps, and adequate sanitation facilities is one of the school's main constraints. He added that the Japanese funding will build on the community's own efforts, having already constructed two classrooms using its own resources.

ASSCODECHA will be responsible for executing the project in coordination with the relevant authorities, the school administration, and the local community. The association is expected to ensure transparency in the use of funds and the upkeep of infrastructure and equipment.

The initiative forms part of broader Mozambique-Japan cooperation in the education sector, with a focus on improving school infrastructure and expanding access to learning.