Effects of children’s rights on school value systems: a case study of Nyamuzuwe cluster

Abstract

This study sought to find out the effects of children’s rights on school value system. The study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Fifty five respondents comprising of 30 children, 15 teachers, 6 parents and 4 heads of departments were used as research subjects. The research used questionnaires and interviews as research instruments. The major findings were that most of the children, parents and some teachers do not know the Convention on the Rights of Child document and only know rights of children from different sources. The school values pave way for children to claim certain rights. The right to be heard can be claimed if children are having Junior School Development Committee at their schools. The study recommends that curriculum designers should include children’s rights with African cultural values. It is also important to provide children with adequate relevant information regarding children’s rights. There is also need for mass media on the importance of school discipline so as to alleviate the effects of rights on school value system.

Key words: children, rights, school, value systems, discipline