Chinese Government provides USD $1,412,106 for student transportation in Kiribati

According to the Government of Kiribati's 2022 Development Budget, China will provide USD $1,412,106 for Student Transport.

On April 29, 2022, China donated 20 school buses to address the transportation needs of students living on the Pacific country's outer islands, suggesting that this may be the same commitment.

Chinese Ambassador to Kiribati Tang Songgen, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau, Vice President Teuea Toatu, Minister for Education Alexander Teabo and other government ministers attended the handover ceremony in Tarawa, Kiribati's capital.

Ambassador Tang said the school trucks, as part of China's support for Kiribati's outer islands to realize balanced development, will make getting to school easier, safer, quicker and happier for local students.

Minister Teabo, on behalf of the Kiribati government, thanked the Chinese side for providing school trucks and aid in other areas.

He said the lack of school transport in Kiribati's outer islands has been a pressing issue, noting that in some places local students have to walk a long distance to school. "China has helped us to make a difference in the life of our future leaders in the outer islands to allow them access education easily," he said.