Human right education and the Nigerian child: implications for counselling

Abstract

This paper examines the concept of human right to education as listed in Article 26 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights of December 1948. Human right is viewed as natural or moral law which has the force of conscience. The declaration is directed at the right to formal Western education in Nigeria, rather than indigenous or Islamic. The efforts made by various regional/state and federal governments by providing universal free primary education for the Nigeria child are examined. The inability of the federal government to provide minimum and compulsory education as well as inadequate funding is seen as obstacles for the realization of the child’s right to education in Nigeria. Urgent actions in providing minimum and adequate funding for that minimum level of education are seriously solicited from the standpoint of the roles of Guidance and Counseling.