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Teaching children human rights in schools has improved their behaviour and achievement, a visiting British official says.
The Hampshire County Council deputy director of children's services, John Clarke, yesterday told MPs that since 2004, schools in the county had begun teaching children their human rights - as enshrined in the United Nations' convention on the rights of the child.
The schools also integrated the "rights-based" approach into their operations and decision making.
Mr Clarke has been brought to New Zealand by the Human Rights Commission and several non-government groups in a bid to promote a similar system here.
He told Parliament's education and science select committee that three years after the scheme's introduction there were improvements in student attendance, behaviour and academic achievement, particularly in English.
Mr Clarke said teaching children their human rights gave them a greater sense of belonging in their school and community and generated enthusiasm for their school work. It also encouraged complex thinking.
"They begin to use higher-order thinking and higher-level language and that seems to play back into the English curriculum."
Most of the 342 participating schools were at the primary level as it was harder to integrate into secondary schools where students could have several different teachers in one day.
Labour MP Marian Hobbs questioned whether it was necessary to have the programme linked to the United Nations convention. Mr Clarke said it would be useful to have the UN document as a reference point.
New Zealand First education spokesman Brian Donnelly questioned whether five or six-year-olds would be able to understand the concepts being taught. Mr Clarke said experience showed they could.
Amnesty International Aotearoa chief Ced Simpson said New Zealand should abide by the UN convention.
- NZPA
