Commission to include Human Rights Education in secondary schools curriculum, says Ojukwu

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to work with relevant government organisations to ensure the inclusion of Human Rights Education (HRE) in the curriculum of secondary education in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, made this known at a one -day capacity building for principals and vice principals of government and private schools in Abuja.

Ojukwu, represented by Abdulrahaman Yakubu, director, civil and political right of the commission said on March 23, 2011, the United Nations general assembly adopted declaration on human rights education and training.

He added that the declaration on human rights education provides persons with knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours to build and promote a universal a universal culture of human rights.

” The commission in line with it’s mandate is working vigorously to ensure the implementation of the World Programme on Human Rights Education (WPHRE) through the inter-ministerial committee set up to ensure the attainment of objectives of the programme.

” Education in human rights though presently subsumed under civic education in schools is inadequate in inculcating human rights values and standards in the school system” he said.

” Principals and vice principals undoubtedly play a pivotal role in society and schools systems especially in inculcating the right attitudes and values to pupils and students.

” Today’s capacity building will go a long way in equipping you to play this role in promoting respect of human rights amongst students and even school teachers in general.

” I hereby encourage all participating principals and vice-principals to take advantage of the capacity building and impact the knowledge and skills acquired to teachers and students” he said.

Also speaking , Mrs Helen Idatiwoji, deputy director, FCT secondary education board, thanked the commission for organising the workshop.

She said it would impact positively on the participants.

Mrs Rahmatu Nusa, Director junior secondary schools said the training would give them opportunity to make right choices and respect for one another.

According to reports, the participants from some selected private and government schools in the FCT were in attendance.