Tanzania's Zanzibar closes down schools due to heavy rains

Tanzania's semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar has temporarily closed down public and private schools due to the ongoing heavy rains, which have led to floods in the Indian Ocean islands, a senior official said Wednesday.

Riziki Pembe Juma, Zanzibar's Minister for Education and Vocational Training said that the downpour, which has been hitting both islands of Unguja and Pemba for the past three weeks have also destroyed road infrastructures and people's properties.

She said that some schools are engulfed with water, making it very difficult for teachers to do their job and in many areas, it becomes hectic for children to reach schools.

The minister disclosed that the decision was reached after the recommendation from the Zanzibar Disasters' Committee, which advised the government to close down schools for the safety of school children.

"After going through the recommendations, we had no options rather than closing them until when the situation is normalized," the minister said.

She, however, said that Form Six students who were sitting for their final exams will continue to do their exams.

So far there are about 364,495 primary and secondary school students in Zanzibar. Endit