The national government has committed to permanently relocating some of the schools affected by floods in Tana River County. Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, accompanied by Principal Secretary for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) Kelo Arsama and Garsen MP Ali Wario, visited schools and IDP camps in Tana Delta Sub County on Saturday.
Machogu announced that the ministry had already allocated funds for the renovation of schools and the relocation of others to ensure smooth learning activities in the area.
“We have set aside funds that will be toppled up with the NGCDF for construction of classrooms and improving infrastructure in schools,” he said.
At least 22 schools in Tana Delta Sub County were submerged by flood waters in March 2024 and others are still water logged hence affecting education of thousands of learners.
On the teacher shortage in the area, Machogu said that more teachers will be posted in schools as he encouraged parents to take their children to Teachers Training colleges as a way of addressing mass exodus of teachers from outside Tana River.
“I have seen you have a shortage of 297 teachers and as a ministry we are going to send more teachers this year so that we can bridge that gap. Education is the only equalizer and we have vacancies in the teaching profession but in Tana River very few have the qualifications and I want to challenge parents to take their children for teaching courses so that they can be employed here instead of you depending on teachers from other regions,” he said.
On his part, PS Arsama said that his department was already distributing iron sheets and other building materials and food items to residents that were displaced by the floods so that they can restart their lives.
“The President has directed me to ensure that all the victims of floods are resettled and that is why we are distributing building materials and food items to enable them restart their lives,” he said.
MP Wario on the other hand thanked the national government for assuring to resettle IDPs on higher grounds to curb future flood destructions.
“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,” he said.
