The perceived impact of child labour on academic performance of JHS students at Adawso Circuit

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of child labour on academic performance of junior high school students in the Adawso circuit of the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana. The objective of the study were to find out the factors that contributes to child labour, find out the effect of child labour on pupils’ academic performance and to identify ways of reducing child labour. Descriptive research design was adopted using the mixed methods approach. Data for the study were collected from 40 students, eight parents, two head teachers, eight teachers and two official from the education office. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guide. Sixty respondents formed the sample size. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the respondents. The reliability test yielded cronbach alpha of 0.75. The questionnaire data were analysed with descriptive statistics and the interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study found that factors that contributed to child labour were poverty, single parenthood and low level of education of engagement of children in other activities apart from school work and poor concentration in class were some effect of child labour. Enforcement of legislation against child labor and provision of free qualitative but compulsory education at all levels are some ways of mitigating child labour. It is recommended based on the findings that education planners should come up with a cost effective action plan to cater for vulnerable children. Policy makers and organizations concerned with child rights issues focus their attention on domestic labour.