ISSN 2360-7963
Abstract: This study examines child abuse and neglect and it effect on academic performance of students in secondary school in Mosogar Delta State. The population for this study consists of all children in both public and private secondary schools in Mosogar Delta State, Nigeria. The research instrument used was questionnaire and one hundred and fifty (150) respondents were used among the four selected school. The result showed that sexual abuse, right to equality was always violated by child marriages, beliefs in traditional attitudes deeply entrenched in custom practices child marriage, female genital mutilation was massively practiced and molestation are forms of child abuse in Mosogar Delta State, Nigeria. This study therefore recommended that there should be public enlightenment programmes to combat mass ignorance and public awareness on the right to freedom from all forms of child abuse and as much as possible, teachers/caregivers should avoid the use of corporal punishment because it only teaches children that violence is the best way of maintaining control and it encourages them to hit other children. The study concluded that child abuse and neglect is a global problem that takes place in many setting one of which is the school. Child abuse as discussed has serious implications on the educational system in Nigeria
Keywords: Child marriage, molestation, physical Abuse, Girl child abuse