• Handling a sudden death in school requires a coordination of responses that will prioritize the safety and well-being of other students, members of staff and the school community at large.

In the recent past, there have been rampant cases of unexplained deaths in Kenyan primary and secondary schools.

The recent case was the sudden death of a form four student from Moi Nyabohanse Girls Secondary School in Migori County.

The situation led to the indefinite closing of the school one day after the incident following students' unrest. The Kuria West sub-county police commander, Reuben Bett, stated that students were struck to protest the school's alleged silence over the matter.

Parents of the deceased also accused the school management of failing to inform them of what conspired.

This case is not unique in Kenya; many similar cases have been recorded in the recent past, where a student died mysteriously in school, and the school could not give comprehensive or convincing explanations that led to the death of the student.

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Other such cases have affected schools like St. Peter’s Nyakemincha High School, Kilungu Boys High School, Turkana Talent High, Lodwar, Mukui Secondary School, and Kangaru School, among others, in the recent past.

Handling a sudden death in school requires a coordination of responses that will prioritize the safety and well-being of other students, members of staff and the school community at large.

This calls for immediate action, support services and lasting strategies to address the emotional and practical needs of the affected people, as discussed below;

1. Safety and Security

Immediately the death of a student occurs, clear the immediate area, dispatch first aiders, if any, and call emergency services like the police.

2. Notification

Inform the relevant authority, like the headteacher or/ and other relevant emergency contacts like the matron or school nurse.

3. Witness Support

Direct witnesses in the scene to a safe space before assessing their need for therapy like counselling or any psychological support.

4. Support services and strategy

Support rooms: identify a quiet, private space for students to grieve while equipped with resources like wipes, water and other creative materials that will aid. In addition, find staff members who can provide emotional support and monitor the needs of the grieving students.

5. Communication to Parents/Guardians

Notify the deceased's parents or guardians about the incident. The notification should be done in a wise way so that the shocking news does not cause harm to the receivers.

6. Neurodivergent Support

Some students and some staff members may need neurodivergent support. This means they may experience grief differently and so require specific support strategies. Therefore, such resources should be readily available for such situations.

7. Mental Health Awareness

Give mental health resources and promote awareness of local and national helplines so that communication can be made easy and effective during such emergencies.

8. Long Term Support

Schools should also develop long-term support plans like grief counselling, memorial events and curriculum adjustments to be utilized during such times.

Some of the key considerations to bear in mind during such incidences are;

1. Sensitivity and privacy

Be mindful of the specific needs and circumstances of the community that the deceased belongs to, and also be respectful of family privacy.

2. Maintain Normalcy

Try as much as possible to maintain school routines and lessons while providing the necessary support to the larger affected community.

3. Clear Communication

Develop a clear communication plan for relaying information to students, staff and parents or guardians about the incident. Once this is done properly, it clears doubts and unnecessary accusations.

4. Legal Processes

As a school, understand and follow the legal processes related to the death of the student should it be needed.

It is important to understand that death is a natural occurrence, and it cannot be avoided at times.

Schools should implement a plan to ensure a coordinated and effective response should it occur.

Having a comprehensive approach in place will provide immediate needs and long-term support to the affected people. Schools can also be effective in helping the community navigate the difficult experience of a sudden death, especially of a student.