Teachers and Students Perception on Influence of Corruption on Application of Law of Torts in Management of Secondary Schools in Kebbi, Nigeria

Abstract

Although corruption is as old as man, its unimaginable manifestation in recent times in Nigeria has assumed alarming proportions, to the extent that it is threatening the credibility if the education system. This study focuses on how corruption influences the application of law of torts particularly in the management of secondary schools in Kebbi State. Twenty secondary schools were randomly selected from four education zones in Kebbi State, while 200 teachers and 280 students were chosen using stratified random sampling techniques. A researcher designed and validated questionnaire with a reliability index of 0.83 was used to generate data required for the study. Three research questions were answered using simple percentages, while three Null hypotheses were tested using Chi-square at 0.05 alpha levels. The study found that corruption influenced the application of the law torts in both intentional and unintentional injuries and that corruption factors seem to defy remedies. The paper therefore recommended among others that commission of intentional torts by staff and students should be severely penalized by the management to serve as deterrence and to avoid litigations in courts. Teachers should be enlightened through workshops to appreciate the gravity of negligence which is central in the case of unintentional torts.