Published Paper Details:

Despite Kenya having endorsed Safe Schools Declaration (2015) with a commitment to safeguard education in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in respect of the learners, teachers, facilities and infrastructure amidst armed conflict. Notably, there are experiences of violent extremist attacks targeted at educational establishments, indicating a realization shortfall. In this regard, Safe Schools Declaration (2015) intends to have a continuation of effective education amidst recognized armed conflict such as the activities of violent extremists in North Eastern Kenya. However, in the recent past, there have been continued attacks against educational establishments leading to stakeholder fear, abduction, injury, and death, besides destruction of vital educational property. So far the government has promised to increase security efforts in the affected areas, but still, there, seem to be some leakage as time and again there are reports of violent extremist attacks, reportedly targeting non-local stakeholders, particularly the teachers. This has borne negative consequences such as non-local teacher reaction by desertion, absconding duty, and seeking transfer to safer areas, earlier on within North Eastern counties, but lately outside the region. In line with this, there have been some severe violent extremist attacks leading to the deaths of 32 non-local teachers in the period 2015 to 2020 hence the national teacher employer, Teachers Service Commission (TSC), decided to transfer all non-local teachers from this area to safer regions in the country, outside North Eastern Kenya. This teacher transfer event has further worsened teacher shortage which, for Kenya as a whole has been a national challenge, crippling curriculum implementation activities towards 2020 end year national primary and secondary school examinations for children. Given the consideration that the right to life supersedes the right to education, this paper gives an overview of the educational survival position in North Eastern Kenya against the background of Kenya having endorsed Safe Schools Declaration (2015).