Teacher’s Perception on Factors Militating Against Child Right
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To find out the nature of teachers’ perception on the Rights of the Child
- To find out the relationship between male and female teachers’ perception on the rights of the child
- To know the relationship in teachers’ perceptions on the rights of the child to education, dignity, liberty and life/health when gender is controlled
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
CHILD
Looking at the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,6 one cannot find any definition of “a child”. Black’s Law Dictionary7 defined a child as a person under the age of majority. The Labour Act8 defines a child as a young person under the age of twelve years and a young person as one under the age of fourteen years. The Children and Young Person’s Act,9 defined a child as a “person under the age of fourteen years and a young person to mean “ a person who has attained the age of fourteen years and is under the age of seventeen years. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child10 defined a child as “every human being below the age of eighteen years” The United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child11 defines a child as a person below the age of eighteen years except in the law applicable to the child, the age of majority is attained earlier. The proviso to this definition renders it nothing more than a suggestion. According to Section 277 of the Act, a child is a person below the age of eighteen years. It must be noted that the legislation on issues concerning children in Nigeria is in the residuary legislative list and as such depends on the States. Individual States are meant to adopt and adapt the Child Rights Act. Most States of the Federation like Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Rivers, Taraba, have adopted the CRA. In the process of adapting, some states have changed the definition of “ a child”. In some States, a child, is a young person under the age of thirteen years. In other States like Akwa Ibom State, he/she is a young person under the age of sixteen years.12 The writers are of the view, that the perception of age as a definition of a child in Nigeria, depends on who is defining and varies according to cultural background. Furthermore, the lack of a comprehensive definition that is applicable throughout the nation, is an all encompassing handicap with regard to the just application of the provisions of the law.
Chapter Three
Research methodology
Research Design
The research design adopted in this research work is the survey research design which involves the usage of self-designed questionnaire in the collection of data. Under the survey research design, primary data of this study will be collected from selected primary schools in Ibadan in order to determine the teacher’s perception on factors militating against child right. The design was chosen because it enables the researcher to collect data without manipulation of any variables of interest in the study. The design also provides opportunity for equal chance of participation in the study for respondents.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter is about the analysis and presentation of data collected from the field through questionnaire. The analysis of the data with particular question immediately followed by the presentation of findings.
As mentioned in chapter three, 75 questionnaires were administered and 50 were retrieved and necessary analysis was carried out on them and presented as follows:
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain teacher’s perception on factors militating against child right. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of teacher’s perception on factors militating against child right
Summary
This study was on teacher’s perception on factors militating against child right. Three objectives were raised which included: To find out the nature of teachers’ perception on the Rights of the Child, to find out the relationship between male and female teachers’ perception on the rights of the child and to know the relationship in teachers’ perceptions on the rights of the child to education, dignity, liberty and life/health when gender is controlled. The total population for the study is 75 staffs of selected primary schools in Ibadan. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
This study has demonstrated that teachers and or caregivers have not all come to understand and appreciate the full meaning and demands of the Child’s Right Act. The teacher’s responses to questions/items on this subject reveal that the teachers and caregivers need further debriefing, in order to fall in line with the current thinking in cultured societies, on the rights of children
Recommendation
It was therefore recommended that further training coupled with periodic seminars be mounted for practicing teachers and caregivers. In addition children’s rights should be emphasized in the curriculum of teacher training programmes. Social studies classes at both primary and secondary schools should include aspects of children’s rights such as protection from child abuse, child labor and battering, which many people in this society often flout.
References
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- Federal Government of Nigeria (1979) the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria Lagos: Federal Ministry of Information.
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