AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROTECTION OF STUDENTS RIGHTS: THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN AS A CASE STUDY

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.