The Influence of Child Labour and Street Hawking on the Academic Achievement of Some Primary School Students in Egbeda Local Government in Oyo State
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The general objective of this study is to examine the influence of child labour and street hawking on the academic achievement of primary school students in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The specific objectives are to:
- Determine the extent to which primary school pupils in Egbeda LGA are engaged in child labour and street hawking.
- Examine the effects of child labour and street hawking on pupils’ school attendance, concentration, and classroom participation.
- Assess the relationship between pupils’ involvement in street hawking and their academic performance in core subjects such as English Language and Mathematics.
- Identify the socio-economic factors that influence children’s participation in street hawking.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Child Labour
Child labour is a multidimensional social and economic problem that continues to attract global concern due to its negative impact on the physical, psychological, and intellectual development of children. The International Labour Organization (ILO, 2021) defines child labour as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity, and that is harmful to their physical and mental development. It involves activities that interfere with schooling by denying children the opportunity to attend school, obliging them to leave school prematurely, or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.
In many developing countries, child labour remains widespread, often driven by poverty, unemployment, and weak social protection systems. Children are compelled to work in order to support household income, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities where families struggle to meet basic needs (UNICEF, 2022). Such involvement in economic activities not only exposes children to exploitation but also diminishes their opportunities to access quality education, thereby perpetuating the cycle of poverty across generations.
Scholars have argued that not all forms of child work constitute child labour. Some forms of light work, such as assisting parents in household chores, may not be harmful if carried out under safe conditions and for limited hours. However, child labour specifically refers to exploitative and hazardous work that threatens children’s health, morals, and educational development (Basu & Van, 2021). Street hawking, for example, falls into this category, as it exposes children to risks such as accidents, exploitation, harassment, and irregular school attendance.
In Nigeria, child labour is a persistent challenge despite various legal frameworks, such as the Child Rights Act of 2003, which prohibits exploitative child labour and mandates the protection of children’s rights to education and development. Yet, enforcement remains weak, and millions of children continue to engage in hawking, domestic servitude, and other hazardous forms of work (Akwara et al., 2022). The situation is particularly acute in urban and semi-urban centers where street trading is common, and children are seen carrying goods on their heads to contribute to family income.
From an educational perspective, child labour undermines pupils’ academic achievement by reducing study time, increasing absenteeism, and causing fatigue that hinders concentration and classroom performance (Oduwole, 2020). Children engaged in labour often arrive late to school, miss lessons, or drop out entirely, thereby compromising their ability to compete academically with peers not involved in such activities.
Furthermore, the socio-economic and cultural environment in which children grow influences the prevalence of child labour. In low-income households, children are often viewed as economic assets whose labour supplements family earnings. Cultural practices in some communities even normalize children’s involvement in street hawking as a rite of passage or an acceptable survival strategy (Ademola & Olabisi, 2023).
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CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter presents the research methodology adopted for the study. It describes the research design, population of the study, sample and sampling techniques, research instrument, validity and reliability of the instrument, method of data collection, and method of data analysis. The methodological framework was designed to ensure that the research objectives are systematically addressed and that the findings are reliable, valid, and generalizable to similar settings.
Research Design
The study employed a descriptive survey research design. This design was considered appropriate because the study seeks to obtain data on the opinions, perceptions, and experiences of primary school pupils, teachers, and parents regarding the influence of child labour and street hawking on pupils’ academic achievement. According to Creswell (2018), a descriptive survey design is suitable for studies that aim to collect standardized information from a population to describe existing conditions, relationships, and trends.
Population of the Study
The target population for this study comprised:
- Primary school pupils (particularly upper primary classes 4–6) in selected public primary schools in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State.
- Teachers of the selected primary schools.
- Parents/guardians of pupils involved in child labour and street hawking.
The focus on upper primary pupils was justified because they are more likely to be engaged in hawking and other forms of child labour, and they can adequately respond to research questions compared to younger pupils.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Introduction
This chapter presents and analyzes the data collected from respondents on the influence of child labour and street hawking on academic achievement of primary school pupils in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State. The data were analyzed in line with the two research questions formulated for the study. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used in answering the research questions, while the results are presented in tables for clarity.
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary of Findings
This study examined the influence of child labour and street hawking on the academic achievement of primary school pupils in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State. The major concern of the study was how socio-economic challenges, particularly the prevalence of child labour and street hawking, affect pupils’ ability to attend school regularly, concentrate during lessons, and perform academically.
The analysis of responses revealed that many primary school pupils in Egbeda LGA are actively involved in child labour and street hawking. Pupils are often required to support their parents by engaging in petty trading, hawking goods on the streets, or undertaking menial jobs after or even during school hours. Findings showed that the extent of engagement in such activities is strongly linked to the socio-economic conditions of families, including poverty, unemployment, and large family sizes.
Furthermore, the study established that child labour and street hawking significantly disrupt pupils’ school attendance, punctuality, and classroom participation. Pupils who are engaged in street hawking often arrive late to school, miss important lessons, or are too tired to participate actively in class. This negatively affects their concentration, reduces study time, and limits their academic performance, especially in critical subjects such as English Language and Mathematics.
In addition, it was revealed that children from poorer households are more likely to be engaged in labour activities than those from relatively stable economic backgrounds. Consequently, the academic achievement gap between children engaged in street hawking and those who are not is noticeably wide.
Conclusion
The study concludes that child labour and street hawking pose serious threats to the academic achievement and overall development of primary school pupils in Egbeda LGA of Oyo State. The findings confirm that socio-economic challenges compel parents to involve their children in labour activities as a survival strategy. However, these practices come at the expense of the pupils’ education, as they compromise attendance, concentration, and learning outcomes.
Therefore, the persistence of child labour and street hawking has long-term negative implications, not only for the affected pupils but also for the community and the nation at large. When children’s right to quality education is undermined by socio-economic constraints, the cycle of poverty and underdevelopment is perpetuated.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:
- The government should intensify poverty alleviation programmes and provide financial support to vulnerable families in Egbeda LGA. This will reduce parents’ dependence on children’s earnings from labour and street hawking.
- Existing child protection laws in Nigeria, particularly the Child Rights Act (2003), should be strictly enforced to curb child labour and ensure children remain in school. Community-level monitoring should also be encouraged.
- Schools, religious institutions, and community leaders should embark on sensitization campaigns to enlighten parents on the negative effects of child labour and street hawking on children’s education and future opportunities.
- Primary schools in Egbeda LGA should be supported with incentives such as free meals, school supplies, and scholarships for indigent pupils. Such interventions will encourage school attendance and reduce the pressure on parents to engage their children in labour.
- Skills acquisition and small-scale business support programmes should be provided for parents, particularly mothers, so they can generate income without relying on child labour.
REFERENCES
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