Securing the Rights of Early School Children in a Terrorized Society: Implications for World Best Educational Practices

Abstract

Nigeria is currently witnessing severe and frantic insecurity challenges. Today, parent lives in absolute suspicion and constant fear of an impending disaster on their children; either in form of a bomb attack, abduction/kidnapping or both. Statistics shows that about eight million children of school age are not out of school in Nigeria. Many children are abused physically, mentally, sexually, psychologically and morally on daily basis. Some who are of school age are on the streets hawking while many live on the streets to become hoodlums tomorrow. Others are objects of rape, child labour even at an early age while a large number of these children are even used for rituals. Majority of the early education centres have no fence or security guards, even where these are available, the security system is very porous. Could this be a reflection of the backdrop of the overall gross insecurity in the country? Are parents gullible and insensitive to security needs of their children? Are teachers and administrators culpable? What roles could major stakeholders play to seal the leaking holes and ensure safety and security of school children in Nigeria? This study focuses on these and other issues and makes recommendations on the way forwards.