Major Effects of Human Rights Abuses on the Academic Performance of Pupils in a Ghanaian Basic School

Abstract

The findings and results showed that several abuses occur in the school. The findings suggest that the majority of teachers and students have knowledge of the rights of the children in school. They believe that students have right to participate in school decision making, protection against sexual harassment and verbal abuse, and protection from torture or inhumane treatment. However, there were several violations - verbal assault, sexual harassment, emotional violence, non-participation in decision making and public humiliation of students are very prevalent in the school. Both teachers and students perpetrate human rights violations. Due to violations, some students do not recognize that they have rights such as religious rights, freedom of expression and pedagogic rights.

Keywords: Human Rights, Abuse and Effects