The Legal Implications of Child Protection and Safeguarding Policies: A Nigerian Perspective
Journal Title: International Journal of Social Science And Human Research - Year 2024, Vol 7, Issue 09
Abstract
Children have the right to life, survival and development but also a right to be protected from any form of abuse, particularly in schools. Therefore, the standards for child protection in schools should be guided by the principles that prioritize the safety, well-being and rights of children. These principles form the basis of child protection safeguarding policies in schools and are paramount in ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for children. Yet the spate of child protection issues in Nigeria raises questions regarding the existence, implementation and enforcement of the pieces of legislation and policies within schools. This work not only examined the legal framework for child protection in Nigeria but also the legal implications of child safeguarding policies in schools. It argues that in order for schools to create a secure and safe environment for learning, firstly, the establishment of child safeguarding policies and procedure are critical to achieving this. Secondly, schools need to abandon the old concept of punishment-based discipline that relies on fear and embrace a more modern correction-based approach to discipline and establish structures to leverage discipline to achieve a safe and secure environment for all. It concludes that safeguarding policies should be viewed as a school’s translation of child protection legislation for action and as such, its implementation manual. In drawing lessons from the UK, the study recommended that government needs to drive child protection issues through the education of stakeholders and the establishment of an enforcement mechanism or regulatory body. This body should coordinate child safeguarding issues by providing a platform for stakeholder collaboration in order to achieve more cohesion within the sector.
Authors and Affiliations
Brisibe, Beimonyo Vivien, Ayibamientei, TonbieYabefa, Anurume, Peace Nkiruka
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP744844
- DOI 10.47191/ijsshr/v7-i09-24
- Views 68
- Downloads 0
The Development of STEM-Based Teaching Materials to Enhance Students' Critical Thinking Skills
This study is developmental research aimed at analyzing the development results of STEM-based physics teaching materials, practitioners' responses, and the effectiveness of STEM-based physics teaching materials in enhanc...
Enhancing Middle School Teachers' Competence through Training and Mentoring in Artificial Intelligent Technology
SMP Negeri 3 Selat is located in Duda Utara, Selat District, Karangasem Regency, Bali Province, Indonesia. Situational analysis shows that most teachers have not utilized artificial intelligence (AI) technology optimally...
Protection Strategies for Interstate Migrant Workers in Kerala: An Urgent Call for Policy Reforms
Interstate migrant workers in India are highly disenfranchised, often facing exploitative labour conditions without access to social protection, healthcare, housing, or other basic rights. Their informal employment leads...
The Role of PAI Teacher Practices in Strengthening Student Religious Moderation in Banyumas District
Diversity is a sunnatullah whose existence cannot be eliminated. Therefore, in this case religion functions as a blessing for all mankind, it can be done through creating awareness about tolerance in the midst of the div...
Notary Efforts in the Prevention of Money Laundering
In addition to having rights and obligations as stipulated in the Notary Office Law, notaries are also given additional obligations in the context of preventing and eradicating money laundering, namely as reporting party...