IMPACT OF CHILD LABOUR ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN IN TAPA ABOTOASE, BIAKOYE DISTRICT
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess impact of child labour on academic performance of school children in Tapa Abotoase, Biakoye District of the Volta Region. Child labour in Tapa Abotoase, Biakoye District, significantly affects the academic performance of school children. Despite efforts to reduce child labour, many children engage in laborious activities during school hours, leading to high absenteeism, poor academic performance, and increased dropout rates. This study employed a case study research design to examine the effects of child labour on academic performance in the region. A mixed-methods approach, involving interviews, observations, and self-administered questionnaires, was used to collect comprehensive data. The sample included thirty pupils, ten parents, thirty teachers, and twenty personnel from the Biakoye District Education Directorate. Data analysis involved thematic and descriptive statistics, with frequency and percentage tables used to present the data. Excel and other software packages were utilized to organize the numerical data and compute item frequencies. The study revealed a high prevalence of child labour activities such as fishing, farming, and trading among children aged 7-14. Many children were found to engage in hazardous fishing practices during school hours, impacting their education and overall well-being. It was recommended that government and child protection agencies intensify efforts to educate families on family planning to reduce economic pressures that drive child labour. Additionally, collaboration with the Non-formal Education Division should be strengthened to provide literacy programs for illiterate parents, thereby enhancing awareness and reducing the incidence of child labour in the community.
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