An Investigation Into The Protection Of Students Rights: The University Of Benin As A Case Study

ABSTRACT This research study investigated the protection of students right using the University of Benin as a case study. Using the survey research design, questionnaires were distributed to 100 respondents cutting across 10 faculties in the University of Benin. Responses from 88 students were analysed with simple percentage, arithmetic mean and standard deviation using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20.0. Results showed that on the part of students there is almost no awareness on their fundamental human rights as Nigerian citizens as well as other rights they are entitled to as students.  In this environment of ignorance, the fundamental human rights of undergraduates, students' right to effective student representation in decision making and students' right to a learning environment that encourages learning are not protected by the university administration. Of all the categories of students' right investigated, results from empirical analysis showed the students' right to effective student representation in decision making is the most violated by the University administration. As such the study recommends that the judicial and legislative organs should develop a specific "Students' Bill of Rights" for Nigerian students, having the full backing of the law. Also, it should be made mandatory for all higher education institutions to have separate policy documents wherein the obligations of the students, their rights as well as the obligations of the school to the students are clearly spelt out.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION5 Background of the Study5 Statement of the Problem7 Research Questions8 Purpose of the Study8 Significance of the Study8 Scope and Delimitations of the Study9 Limitations of the Study9 Operational Definition of Terms10
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE11 An Overview on Students' Rights: The Nigerian Experience11 The Case of University of Benin15 An Overview of Education Law: The Nigerian Experience16 Implications of Education Law for Educational Management19 Review of Empirical Literature20 Summary of Literature23
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY24 Introduction24 Research Design24 Population of Study25 Sample of Study and Sampling Technique25 Data for the Study25 Instrumentation25 Method of Data Analysis26
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND ANALYSIS27 Introduction27 Demographic Data Analysis27 Analysing Research Questions29 Research Question One29 Research Question Two31 Research Question Three32 Research Question Four34 Discussion of Findings35
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION38 Introduction38 Summary of Findings38 Policy Recommendations39 Conclusion40 Bibliography41 Appendix 1: Questionnaire43 Appendix 2: SPSS Results45