The national government has announced plans to permanently relocate some of the schools affected by floods in Tana River County.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, during a tour of schools and IDP camps in Tana Delta Sub County, emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted learning activities in the region. He was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) Harsama Kello and Garsen MP Ali Wario.
“We have set aside funds that will be topped up with the NGCDF for the construction of classrooms and improving infrastructure in schools,” said Machogu. The ministry has allocated funds for both renovations and relocations of affected schools.
In March of this year, floodwaters submerged at least 22 schools in Tana Delta Sub County. Many of these schools remain waterlogged, disrupting the education of thousands of learners.
To address the teacher shortage in the area, Machogu announced that more teachers would be posted to local schools. He also encouraged parents in Tana River to enroll their children in Teachers Training Colleges to mitigate the exodus of teachers from other regions.
“I have seen you have a shortage of 297 teachers, and as a ministry, we are going to send more teachers this year to bridge that gap. Education is the only equalizer, and we have vacancies in the teaching profession. In Tana River, very few have the qualifications, and I challenge parents to take their children for teaching courses so they can be employed here instead of depending on teachers from other regions,” Machogu stated.
PS Kello added that his department is already distributing iron sheets, other building materials, and food items to residents displaced by the floods to help them rebuild their lives.
“The President has directed me to ensure that all the victims of floods are resettled, which is why we are distributing building materials and food items to enable them to restart their lives,” Kello said.
MP Wario expressed gratitude to the national government for its efforts to resettle IDPs on higher grounds to prevent future flood damage.
“Many schools were affected by floods, and many are in camps, but we want a teacher training college in Garsen so that we can have local teachers,” Wario emphasized.
The government’s initiative aims to restore normalcy in the education sector of Tana River County and ensure the safety and well-being of its residents.
