Japan-backed school in Tarnol to expand education opportunities for 250 girls

Abdullah Jan

Islamabad: Up to 250 girls in Tarnol, Islamabad, will have access to improved educational facilities following the completion of a Japan-funded primary school, as the two countries step up community-level cooperation to promote girls’ education and human development.

Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Akamatsu Shuichi inaugurated the Tine Girls Model Primary School this week, marking the completion of a project financed through the Japanese government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme.

The Government of Japan provided $44,025 for the initiative, which was implemented by the Community Services Programme (CSP), a non-governmental organisation working in education, healthcare, clean water provision and women’s empowerment.

The school currently has 240 enrolled students and can accommodate up to 250 children, offering local families an expanded opportunity to educate their daughters in a purpose-built learning environment.

The project comes amid continuing efforts to improve access to quality education for girls, particularly in communities where inadequate facilities can create obstacles to school attendance and learning. By providing dedicated classrooms and essential amenities, the new facility aims to create a safer and more supportive environment for students.

The school features eight classrooms, a principal’s office, washrooms, a levelled playground and 250 student chairs. Additional facilities provided through CSP’s contribution include a solar power system, an underground water storage tank, an electric water cooler and an interactive smart board to support digital learning.

These facilities are intended to improve the daily learning experience while providing students and teachers with better educational resources. The solar power system and water facilities will also help address basic infrastructure needs, while the smart board introduces an additional tool for classroom instruction.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Ambassador Akamatsu congratulated CSP on completing the project despite challenging weather conditions. He emphasised that education was a fundamental human right and a central pillar of human security, describing it as essential to building a better and more prosperous society.

He particularly highlighted the importance of girls’ education to Pakistan’s future, reaffirming that education remained a major priority of Japan’s development cooperation with the country.

The ambassador also reiterated Japan’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s sustainable development, expressing hope that the school would become a lasting symbol of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Representatives of the Japanese Embassy and CSP, along with teachers, students, parents and community members, attended the inauguration ceremony.

The project reflects Japan’s approach of supporting community-level initiatives that address essential human needs through its grassroots assistance programme. Rather than focusing solely on large-scale infrastructure, the programme also finances projects designed to deliver direct benefits to local communities.

For Tarnol, the new school represents an investment in educational access and the future prospects of young girls. With capacity for 250 students and facilities for both conventional and digital learning, it is expected to support local efforts to provide girls with better opportunities to acquire knowledge and develop the skills needed for their future.

The initiative also highlights the role of international development partnerships in strengthening Pakistan’s education sector, particularly through targeted support for underserved communities and projects that promote equal opportunities for children.