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Schools affected by floods in Tana River County will be permanently relocated, the Ministry of Education has said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu made the announcement after touring the schools and camps for internally displaced people on Saturday.

At least 22 schools were damaged by heavy rains and floods between March and May, he said.

Machogu said the ministry had allocated money for renovating the damaged schools, while others will be relocated so that learning can continue.

“We have set aside funds that will be augmented by the National Government Constituencies Development Fund for the construction of classrooms and infrastructure improvement,” he said.

Machogu also addressed a shortage of teachers in the region, blaming it on its adverse weather conditions and the low number of individuals in the county who qualify to become teachers.

“We are aware of the shortage of 297 teachers and are committed to sending more this year to fill this gap,” he said.

“Education is the greatest equaliser and we have vacancies in the teaching profession. However, in Tana River, very few qualify.”

Machogu urged parents in the region to encourage their children to take up teaching courses so as to reduce dependency on other regions.

The CS was accompanied by Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Principal Secretary Harsama Kello and Garsen MP Wario Hashaka.

Machogu used the occasion to donate relief food and construction materials to parents displaced by floods in the Tana Delta region.