How to prevent human rights violations in Schools

The violation of Human Rights in schools is a common event that needs to be halted however, there are many in Ghana today who do not still understand the importance of human rights and why they must be preserved and protected in our schools.

Abuse of the basic rights of learners comes from students, teachers, and other workers within the school environment.

According to UNICEF, over 150 million learners between the ages of 13-15 suffer violence from their peers, whiles 1 out of 3 students are bullied by their colleagues and engage in physical fights. Again, 720 million students lack protection in their countries as the laws in corporal punishment are not obeyed in schools.

Students remain vulnerable within the school environment, just as teachers. Let us address these questions.

How will you feel if your brother, sister, or child comes home from school with a swollen eye?

What will be your reaction if your ward comes home with marks of cane strokes all over the body?

What will be your first reaction if you get a call that your ward has been rushed to the hospital after being caned by a teacher for a minor school offence?

What will you do or say when someone (a female) dear to you is raped or defiled?

You see, in all the above instances, human rights violations have taken place and the one who has suffered the ordeal is a victim who needs help. Again, the violator of the rights needs to be dealt with according to the laws of the land.

Many of the issues raised above happen in our schools with the use of canes being the most common even though the Ghana Education Service has passed laws that prohibit the use of canes in schools.

Unfortunately, there are still teachers in Ghana who believe that caning is the best way to correct a school child. For others, any attempt by human rights advocates to speak against the use of canes is seen as an attempt to encourage waywardness and indiscipline in schools.

It is time our teachers and school authorities realize that caning does not transform people, especially the use of a cane or corporal punishment that aims at hurting the learner.

Correction should be done with love and care so as not to harm the learner.  Instead of using the cane, or corporal punishments, other means of correcting wrongdoing without hurting the child physically or emotionally should be adopted.

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For many who do not still appreciate the issues of human rights, anytime a human rights activist or group speaks against inhumane treatment, they are seen as forcing Western beliefs on the people.

 

How to prevent human rights violations in Schools

  1. Parents should talk to and advise their children on how to behave, dos and don’ts at home and in school.
  2. Schools should set safer rules and productive and healthy punitive measures for learners, instead of those that aim at causing pain and harm.
  3. Teachers should educate themselves on the dangers of abusing their students, which include imprisonment and advice themselves.
  4. Our schools, teachers, and parents should see each other as partners to come out with best practices and behaviours that are acceptable for learners and teachers.
  5. Parents must inculcate in their children assertiveness to stand for what is right, their rights, and be disciplined as well.
  6. Schools must become safe havens for learners where learners are empowered to make the right choices in behaviour and deeds.
  7. Instead of using harmful punitive options to correct learners, schools must come out with better options that add value to the learner and improve attitude.
  8. Teachers and other staff must receive training on positive discipline, classroom management, and peaceful conflict resolution. The practice where school leaders and owners tell teachers not to use a cane or punish learners is not enough. Schools must invest in in-service training to address issues of disciplining and teacher abusive practices within the school environment.
  9.  Human rights advocates need support and access to schools, learners, and teachers to teach and help develop and implement life skills and social and emotional learning programmes. This will help to build the resilience and protective capacity of children and youth in schools towards a better and safer society.

 

READ: Lack of protection thwarting human rights fight-Joseph Wemakor

These and many others can be done to help ensure that we prevent and deal with human rights violations in Ghanaian Schools.

 

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