LANDI KOTAL, Sept 30: Ambassadors of the United States and Japan and NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah inaugurated the construction and repair work in Jamrud of the first of 130 schools that will be reconstructed under the Federally Administered Tribal Areas school reconstruction and furnishing project.

Over $5 million has been provided by the USAID and the Japanese embassy for the project. The 30-year-old primary school at Sur Kamar, where the project was launched, was badly in need of repair and it had been declared dangerous by local authorities. Upon completion, the building will provide basic amenities to around 250 students.

US Ambassador Nancy J. Powell reiterated American government's support for improvement of education facilities in the country, especially Fata. She emphasized the importance of access to education for tribal children. She said the project would benefit around 30,000 students.

Japanese Ambassador Nobuaki Takana said the project would go a long way in helping the people in Fata by enhancing the infrastructure and expanding education opportunities and incentives for schooling of children. "My government strongly supports universal primary education and elimination of illiteracy," he added.

The governor said the government was spending a huge amount on education in the tribal areas. He lamented that the dropout rate of tribal students at middle and high school level was high and said the government was planning to construct more schools in the area.

The foundation stone of the primary section of the Sur Kamar High School was laid to mark the start of the 'Fata schools reconstruction and furnishing project'.