VIOLATION OF RIGHT TO THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN PERSON IN ANAMBRA BASIC SCHOOLS: CHALLENGES TO QUALITY UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of violation of students’/pupils’ right to dignity in Anambra State Basic Education level and to ascertain the challenges posed by such violation to Universal Basic Education in the state. The study was guided by five research questions. Simple random sampling technique was used to draw 1,600 primary and 1,600 junior secondary school pupils/students as sample for the study The instrument used for data collection was questionnaire constructed by the researcher in accordance with the research questions. Three experts from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka validated the instrument to ensure that the items are relevant to the purpose of the study. The instrument was also pilot-tested to ensure its reliability. The results showed that the internal consistency reliability of the items was high. The questionnaire was administered with the help of research assistants and the data collected were analysed using mean. The findings from the study showed that principals, head teachers and senior students to a large extent violate students’/pupils right to dignity because they were not given fair hearing hence many a times they were dehumanized, abused, exploited and humiliated without adequate protection from the school management. Teachers subject students/pupils to various forms of abuse, exploitation and dehumanizing punishments and senior students greatly abuse, violate, dehumanize and humiliate the junior ones. Sometimes the senior students use the junior ones as house helps to fetch water for them, wash their clothes, and serve them food. The government also violates students’ right to dignity as some of our government schools are in deplorable conditions among others. The study concluded that violation of students’ right to dignity has devastating effect on Universal Basic Education which aims at universal and compulsory access to quality basic education for all children. The study recommended among others that the State Ministry of Education should organize workshops and seminars for principals and head teachers on education law particularly as it concerns discipline of students.