Relationship between child labor and academic performance of secondary school students in Nakaloke town council, Mbale district, Uganda.

Abstract

This study examined the influence of child labour on academic performance of school going children in Nakaloke Town Council. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of child labour practices prevalent among students in Nakaloke Town Council, to examine the effect of child labour on school attendance by students in Nakaloke Town Council and to ascertain the effect of child labour practices on students’ academic achievement in Nakaloke Town Council. The researcher used survey method, the population of the study comprised all the five secondary schools in Nakaloke Town Council, Mbale Uganda; with total number of 153 teachers and 45 Parents and Teachers Association members. The findings of this research were that there are a number of child labour practices among students in Nakaloke Sub County, including Hawking, Carrying luggage for money, grazing for money, shop keeping for money, slashing, and doing general manual work, Child labour affects student school attendance patterns in secondary schools in Nakaloke Sub County (r=0.530) and Child labour affects student academic achievement in secondary schools in Nakaloke Sub County (r=0.673). Finally the research recommended that the School authorities should work collaboratively with other stakeholders to ensure that child labour practices are eliminated among students in Nakaloke Sub County, School management should put in place strategies to ensure no child labour practices disrupt student school attendance given its adverse effects, and all mechanisms possible should be devised to help improve student academic achievement by eliminating all forms of child labour.