US$79.3 Million Education Aid for Myanmar From Australia

MELBOURNE, June 9 (Bernama) -- Australia will provide A$80 million (US$79.3 million) over the next four years in an attempt to increase the number of Myanmar children completing primary school. The new funding was announced by Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr during his visit to the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) education projects in Myanmar, on Saturday. Senator Carr said in a statement that the A$80 million (US$79.3 million) education package would fund teacher training, textbooks and food aid in remote schools. It will also provide water and sanitation facilities at primary schools to prevent children from getting sick. Earlier this week, Australia announced the lifting of its travel and financial sanctions against Myanmar to encourage the country's ongoing democracy movement. --BERNAMA