The Effects of Child Labour on Academic Performance of Pupils of Bungokho Sub-county in Mbale District.

Abstract

MUSUNGU LYDIA CONSTANCE (2009-M053-20008) The Effects of Child Labour on Academic Performance of Pupils of Bungokho Sub-county in Mbale District. The study dealt with the effects of child labour on educational performance of pupils of Bungokho sub-county in Mbale district. The thrust of the research was that Child Labour exists in different forms and in many ways affects educational performance of pupils in schools. The objectives under which this study was conducted included; to find out the different forms of child labour practiced in Bungokho sub-county, to find out the causes of poor educational performance of pupils in Bungokho sub-county, to find out the correlation between child labour and educational performance of pupils in Bungokho sub-county, to suggest viable solutions to the effects of child labour on educational performance. The research used a case study design employing both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Data collection tools such as interviews, observation, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) using guiding questions, and documentaries were utilised to achieve the objectives of the study. The research findings, therefore, established that there are several forms of child Labour in Bungokho sub-county manifested in form of stone quarrying, sand mining, working at construction sites, looking after rice gardens, hawking various merchandise as well as loading and offloading items from vehicles let alone domestic chores. Furthermore, the study revealed that pupils‟ educational performance is significantly affected by a complex of socio-economic factors such as absenteeism, late coming, household poverty that limits provision of scholastic materials, lack of midday meals at school besides inadequate supervision of school activities by school head teachers. The research findings, thus, confirmed that pupils under Child Labour are usually absent from school, have low concentration in class due to fatigue, rarely unstable at school to accomplish their school assignments and as such perform poorly in school hence a significant positive correlation between Child Labour and pupils‟ educational performance in schools in Bungokho sub-county. Accordingly this research recommends that for pupils‟ educational performance to improve in Bungokho sub-county schools, collective and committed efforts from all stake holders to eliminate Child Labour practices are required. This should be done through sensitising community members about the ills of Child Labour, empowering households to improve on their incomes and food security as well as creating a friendly child learning environment at school. Parents inevitably should be seen to work and provide for their children and, teachers ought to recommit themselves to their vocation to the overall benefit of the growing children under their responsibility. So while the pride of training children to work as a growing responsible citizenry should remain a key tenet for pupils growth and development, parents and guardians alike, should not use this to abuse the children as it hampers their attainment levels in schools and indeed in life. Key Words: Child Labour, Academic Performance, Pupils, Mbale District.