Effects of school rules and regulations on students' right to freedom of speech and expression in Uganda : a case study of Nakawa Division, Kampala District

Abstract

This was a case study that sought to establish the effects of school rules and regulations on students' right to freedom of speech and expression in secondary schools in Uganda. Realizing that rules and regulations are used as instruments of guiding and controlling students' behavior and conduct in schools. It was hypothesized that School rules and regulations threaten students' exercise of the right to freedom of speech and expression in schools. The general objective of establishing the effects of school rules and regulations on students' right to freedom of speech and expression was achieved through the specific objectives which were to identify human rights instruments that provide for the right to freedom of speech and expression. Identify the main characteristics of school rules and regulations. Find out whether they provide for this fundamental right. Investigate circumstances and which the right is restricted. Identify challenges faced and find measures that can be taken to ensure participation and exercise of the right to freedom of speech and expression in secondary schools in Uganda. Both private and government aided schools were targeted by the study. Ten schools were identified and a simple random selection method was used to collect quantitative data from a sample of 200 respondents who were mainly students. A questionnaire was used as the main tool and was filled confidentially by the respondents. Another sample unit of 30 informants was purposively selected to participate in the interview and focused group discussions. Data from this sample unit was qualitatively analyzed to provide additional qualitative data. It was revealed that the exercise of the right to freedom of speech and expression is a threat to school wide discipline and consequently. School rules and regulations as instruments of controlling students' conduct and behavior. Interfere with the exercise of the right to freedom of speech and expression in schools. The study recommends that school discipline is an important ingredient in the education process and a means by which school children are enabled to socialize in society, and therefore, school rules and regulations are a necessity. However, this should not be used to claim more freedom from students than is justified, Schools should therefore be encouraged to design rules and regulations, administer school discipline and have systems of sanctions and punishments that are in conformity with human rights standards and more so, the convention on the rights of the child.