ASSESSMENT OF WELFARE AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN ORPHANAGE HOMES FOR THE REALISATION OF CHILD RIGHTS ACT IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Welfare and education needs, Child Rights Act, Orphanage HomesAbstract
The realisation of the Child Rights Act (CRA) is dependent on the adequate provision of welfare and educational facilities for children and should be provided by parents. However, there are children regarded as orphans having no access to parents or guardians, hence the provision of orphanage homes to cover up the gap. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the welfare and educational needs of children in orphanages for the realization of the CRA in Lagos State, Nigeria. This study adopted a descriptive survey design and sampled 258 orphans residing in orphanages through purposive techniques. Data were collected with a researcher-designed questionnaire, titled Welfare and Educational Needs Inventory. Data collected were analysed using frequency count and percentage. The findings revealed that all welfare and educational needs for children in orphanage homes were available, and all welfare and educational needs for children in orphanage homes were adequate except specially trained teachers in music and mathematics. The study concluded that the path to realising the CRA for the children in orphanage homes in Lagos State is on the right course. This is evident through the availability and adequacy of most welfare and educational needs. The study recommended that further steps should be taken to improve the welfare and educational provisions of children in orphanages. This is a sure pathway to ensuring that they are not left out in the pursuit of realising the CRA, which is domesticated in the state.
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