Plea for More Teachers in Tana River County Amid Rising Illiteracy
The Department of Adult Education in Tana River County is experiencing a severe shortage of adult education teachers, resulting in increased cases of illiteracy in the area.
During International Literacy Day celebrations at Shikaadabu primary school in Chelewe, Tana North Sub County, County Adult Education Officer Robert Zoka informed the audience that there were a total of 2,221 adult learners, including 523 males and 1698 females.
According to Zoka, there are 100 learning centers, but some students are learning under trees because there are not enough learning centers.
The seven full-time teachers are supported by 43 part-time teachers who are compensated by NGOs, religious organizations, and well-wishers, he added.
He urged the national government to hire more full-time teachers to staff the learning centres in order to retain students, improve the education standards of adult students, and reduce the incidence of illiteracy in the county.
During the same meeting, Tana North Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Mwangi urged parents to ensure that all school-aged children are transported to school in an effort to reduce illiteracy and poverty in the region.
Mwangi also urged the chiefs and assistant chiefs to keep an eye on suspicious individuals from neighboring counties who may be planning to create insecurity in the region, stating that such individuals should be reported to the police for appropriate action.
The deputy county commissioner stated that only peace and security would guarantee the commencement of development projects in the region.
Plea for More Teachers in Tana River County Amid Rising Illiteracy