The Department of Adult Education in Tana River County is experiencing a severe shortage of adult education teachers, leading to increased cases of illiteracy in the area.
Addressing a gathering at Shikaadabu primary school in Chelewe location of Tana North Sub County during celebrations to mark International Literacy Day, County Adult Education Officer Robert Zoka said they had a total of 2,221 adult learners, including 523 males and 1698 females.
Zoka said there are 100 learning centres, though some learners were learning under trees due to lack of learning centres.
He also said the seven full-time teachers are supported by 43 part-time teachers, who are being paid by some NGOs, church organisations, and well-wishers.
He appealed to the national government to employ more full-time teachers to man the learning centres in order to retain the learners, improve the education standards of the adult learners, and reduce cases of illiteracy in the county.
Speaking at the same meeting, Tana North Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Mwangi called on the parents to ensure all school-going children are taken to school in order to reduce cases of illiteracy and poverty levels in the area.
Mwangi also urged the chiefs and assistant chiefs to monitor suspicious characters from their neighbouring counties who may be planning to cause insecurity in the area, saying such people should be reported to the police for necessary action.
The deputy county commissioner said only peace and security would ensure development projects were initiated in the area.
By Simon Guruba
