The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said the commission is working with relevant government organizations to ensure the inclusion of human rights education in the curriculum of Secondary Education in Nigeria.
The executive secretary of NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, who was represented by Director Civil and Political Rights Mr. Abdulrahman Yakubu, disclosed this during the opening session, at the one day capacity building programme, on human rights for principals of government and private schools in Abuja.
Speaking further, Yakubu said though human rights education is presently sumed up under civic education in schools, however, he noted that it is inadequacte in inculcating human rights values and standards in the school system.
He told the participants that the commission has been promoting human rights education in Primary, Secondary Schools and higher institution across the country through sensitization in Abuja and the thirty six states in Nigeria.
According to him, Principals and Vice-Principals undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the society and Schools system especially in inculcating the Right attitudes and values to pupils and students.
“Today’s capacity building will go a long way in equiping you to play vital role in promoting respect of human rights amongst students and even School teachers in general.
Meanwhile the executive secretarys representative encourage, all participating Principals and Vice-Principals to take full advantage of the capacity building ,and impact the knowledge and skills acquired to the teachers and students in their various schools.
However Yakubu noted that”Universal Basic Education Board, FCT Secondary Education Board, Federal Ministry Education and Education Board and Education Resource Centre always respond positively to the commissions request to visit Schools under their control,”he said.
In her remarks, Hajiya Rahmatu Musa, Director, Junior Secondary School and Representative of UBEB Chairman, commended the commission for coming up with this huge initiative to educate principals in Abuja both government and private .
She added that the workshop will go a long way in helping schools in FCT morally and teaching to enable them achieve the common goals in educating Nigerians.
Rahmatu, urged the participants to work together for the basic interests of the worshop as well as respect for each other for the betterment of the country.
