Japan boosts basic education for out-of-school children

The government of Japan, through the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), has given US $711,263 to support a basic education project targeting out-of-school children in Tanzania, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Wednesday. In a statement, the ministry said the aid would be channelled through the Trust Fund for Human Security to the "Basic Education and HIV/AIDS and Life Skills for Out of School Children in Tanzania", to be implemented by UNICEF. Under the project, text books for students and reading materials on HIV/AIDS would be provided and community workshops held on HIV/AIDS with the support of the Complementary Basic Education in Tanzania, a programme aimed at providing "life skills (nutrition, hygiene, HIV/AIDS prevention), literacy and vocational training opportunities to out-of-school children". Children aged from eight to 18 years are expected to benefit from the project. According to the ministry, Tanzania has a high HIV/AIDS rate and a low rate of school attendance among children. The ministry said the project was expected to increase out-of-school children's opportunities for basic education and to enhance the capacity of individuals in communities to prevent HIV/AIDS.