Learner deaths raise fears over safety in schools

Stakeholders are raising concerns over the safety of learners in schools after more than ten students died in separate incidents across the country over the past three months.

The cases, ranging from medical emergencies and violence to suspected negligence, have triggered renewed scrutiny of school safety systems, with parents, education officials and civil society groups warning that urgent reforms are needed to better protect learners.

The Elimu Bora Working Group, a coalition of civil society organisations advocating education reforms, last month raised the alarm, noting that many of the reported deaths could have been prevented if proper safety and health systems had been in place.

The group said the incidents point to deeper systemic weaknesses in school management, student supervision, emergency response and medical preparedness.

The concerns prompted Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to issue firm directives to school administrators during a meeting with principals, instructing them to prioritise learner wellbeing at all times.

“Any conduct that compromises the safety or well-being of learners must be addressed firmly and without hesitation. Protecting our students is a shared duty that lies at the very core of our education system,” said Koskei.

He reminded school leaders that institutions of learning form part of the public service and must operate within established policies, regulations and standards to ensure accountability and fairness while safeguarding equal access to education.

Recent incidents have exposed gaps in school safety mechanisms. In one case, a secondary school student in western Kenya reportedly died after falling ill in a dormitory but failing to receive timely medical attention.

Fellow students said the learner complained of severe stomach pain overnight before assistance arrived too late.

In central Kenya, another student died after collapsing during a school activity, raising concerns over the availability of trained medical personnel and emergency response systems within schools.

Elsewhere, a Form Two learner in a coastal county reportedly died under unclear circumstances after sustaining injuries allegedly linked to a disciplinary incident involving fellow students.

Education stakeholders say the tragedies highlight systemic failures in student protection, supervision and emergency response protocols.

School administrators have partly attributed some of the deaths to complications arising from the transition to the government’s Social Health Authority (SHA) medical cover system.

A Nairobi principal said delays in medical approvals and uncertainty over coverage have sometimes slowed access to treatment for sick students.

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) chairman Willie Kuria acknowledged that some schools are struggling to access medical services under the new healthcare framework. “Schools are doing everything possible to ensure learners are safe. When situations become difficult, we inform parents to come in and support,” said Kuria, noting that many institutions previously relied on the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and are still adjusting to the new arrangements.

However, National Parents Association chairman Silas Obuhatsa insisted that schools retain full responsibility for learners once they are under institutional care.

“When parents release their children to schools, the institutions assume full responsibility for their safety and well-being,” he said, adding that schools must maintain effective emergency response systems regardless of healthcare transitions.

Obuhatsa said parents expect transparency and accountability whenever incidents occur, arguing that the recent cases expose gaps in monitoring boarding facilities, healthcare access and student welfare oversight.

Child protection advocates have also raised concerns over teacher misconduct and the grooming of learners. Reports of inappropriate relationships between teachers and students in several schools have heightened fears that some educators may be abusing their positions of authority.

“Such cases undermine the trust placed in teachers and expose learners to emotional and psychological harm. There should be stricter enforcement of professional conduct rules and stronger reporting mechanisms for students experiencing abuse,” said an education expert.

Education expert Majani Baridi urged schools to move beyond reactive responses and invest in preventive measures.

“Schools should train teachers and staff in crisis management, child protection and student welfare,” he said.