Taiwan has agreed to take part in a US-led initiative to provide education to about 300,000 children and young people in Honduras, a diplomatic ally of both countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday amid calls in the Central American country to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing,
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) on Wednesday announced the Expanding Access to Education initiative aimed at supporting the Alliance for Education founded by the Honduran government, which seeks to create alliances between the Honduran and US governments, the Honduran private sector and other donors in a joint effort to address the educational needs of Honduran children and young people.
USAID would provide US$28 million over three years, working with the US Congress and, subject to the availability of funds, would launch an Improving Pathways to Education initiative to increase access to safe, relevant and quality basic education for at least 300,000 children and youths in Honduras, USAID said in a statement.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via CNA
USAID also intends to provide US$5 million over two years to refurbish at least 51 schools, as part of the alliance’s efforts to increase public and private partnerships for school infrastructure.
The alliance also aims to transform schools into safe spaces, and to design and launch alternative education methods to address the high number of youths in Honduras who do not have access to formal education, USAID said.
Taiwan agreed to contribute US$2 million to the education initiatives, as it would benefit the development of Honduras, its students and the livelihoods of Hondurans, the ministry said.
Taiwan’s decision to join the initiative came amid calls in Honduras for the country to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
On Jan. 1, Honduran Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduardo Enrique Reina met with Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Xie Feng (謝峰) in Brazil in a bid to secure funding for a planned hydraulic power plant.
On Sunday last week, Honduran online news outlet Paradigma reported that Honduran first gentleman Manuel Zelaya has called for the country to break off ties with Taiwan and recognize China instead.
The ministry said Taiwan has for many years implemented projects that improved the lives of the Hondurans and won the nonpartisan support and approval in the country.
Honduras is an important Central American ally of Taiwan, the ministry said, adding that the government would continue working with like-minded countries to assist Honduras’ development.
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