PUPILS whose schools have been affected by flooding in various parts of the country can attend nearby schools to continue with studies, the government has stated.

Prof Adolf Mkenda, the Education, Science and Technology minister, issued this directive on Monday when visiting Rufiji and Kibiti districts in Coast Region.

He inspected schools affected by floods and visited camps for displaced people, and donated textbooks and exercise books to affected pupils housed in the shelters.

He also directed head teachers in the targeted schools to receive the pupils without setting conditions, to enable the children to maintain lessons follow-up in line with existing class schedules.

The schools heads need to inform district education officers to keep records of the number of children who will be attending the particular school, he said, visiting Muhoro Primary School which is surrounded by water, denying children the ability to study since late last month.

The government wants to ensure that pupils whose schools are affected by floods continue their studies wherever they are while other procedures are being pursued to improve school outlays to receive pupils in non-flooded areas, he said.

The president has directed the ministry to make more efforts to ensure that all pupils in affected areas go back to school and continue with studies, he emphasised, affirming that the government’s major responsibility is to ensure that children access education.

So every parent affected by the floods should ensure that children go to a nearby school in the area where they moved, he said, underlining that all children should be accepted regardless of whether they have or do not have uniforms.

They should not wait for transfer procedures but school heads will inform education officers as the children continue with their studies, he affirmed.

“An assessment will be conducted to find out the actual number of affected pupils and ensure that they all eat well and get books and exercise to continue with their studies,” he further noted.

The government will also construct dormitories to accommodate pupils who are living in flood-prone areas to facilitate learning, he elaborated.

Prof Carolyne Nombo, the permanent secretary, said the government will ensure that all pupils affected by floods are well taken care of to enable them continue with their studies.

Abubakar Kunenge, the Coast regional commissioner, said efforts are ongoing to ensure that all people who have been affected are permanently moved to safer settlement areas.

“The first priority was for pupils who expect to sit for the national examinations later this year, where they are quickly connected to other schools to continue with their studies,’ he said, noting that pupils in affected areas are being connected to other schools.

Sara Mlaki, the regional education officer, said that in Rufiji District, a total of 7,264 pupils have been affected by floods in eleven schools. In Kibiti District, 824 pupils have been affected in seven schools, with three schools shut down, she added.