Hundreds of children with special needs in Tanzania are set to enrol in boarding schools after the government reallocated money meant for independence day celebrations to build dormitories.

Some $445,000 (£364,000) had been set aside for Friday's 61st independence day festivities, but that will now be spent on improving schools.

President Samia Suluhu said the dormitories will be built in eight rural special needs schools to help many learners, some of them who walk daily between 5km and 10km (3-5 miles), to attend classes.

The government said the move was aimed at improving the learning environment for children with special needs.