Child Labour and Academic Performance in Mathematics among Primary Schools Pupils

Abstract: This study investigates Child Labour and Academic Performance in Mathematics among Primary Schools Pupils. The study adopted a survey research design. From population of 1,750 pupils, 200 pupils were randomly selected from 20 selected primary schools in the study area. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study A for item questionnaire and the scores of the pupils in the 2014/2015 promotion examination in mathematics were used as data for this study An independent t-test and person product moment correlational statistical techniques were used to test the hypotheses formulated.

Child Labour and Academic Performance in Mathematics among Primary Schools Pupils

Findings revealed that child labour exist among primary school pupils in Etinan Local Government Area as well as children labour pet form significantly poor in mathematics. Based on the findings therefore, recommendation were made that government should educate parents on the Dangers of hawking and that parents should take time off to attend to their families.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study.

Child labour is a case of physical hunting, neglect, biting, beating or mentally harassing the child through incessant scolding criticism or threats for good reason simply put, it is the maltreatment of the child (manly, 2005). Child labour takes various forms, including physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse and neglect (Leocard, 1995, Wisdom, 2009). In 2002, 906,00 children in united states were being maltreated, out of which 61% experienced, neglect, 1’9% were physically labour 10% were sexually molested, and 5% were emotionally or psychologically labour and estimated 1, 500 children were confirmed death from maltreatment (Department of Health and Human services 2003).

Child labour is an issue of grieve concern to the counselors, school teachers and administrators, parents and government even the world over. A child is any living human being of age between birth and 18 years. A child is a valuable gift from God and should be cared for. In some homes, parents-child relationship is a source of distress and trauma which results in parents maltreating their child physically, sexually, psychologically and neglect by failure to provide them with love, care, attention and other needs.

In Nigeria, incident of child labour is common place (UNICEF, 1996: Bukoye, 2004). Stanley (2003) revealed that, of 8 million children under child labour in the world (UNICEF, 1996) 3.2 million were out of school in Nigeria.

In Calabar, one observes children hawking along the streets, filling stations and motor parks. In schools, there are cases of parental failure in paying school fees of their wards and making provisions for books. There are also cases of dumping of children in refuse heaps latrines and pits. Teachers are seen i schools beating children mercilessly in the name of discipline.

Child Labour and Academic Performance in Mathematics among Primary Schools Pupils

1.2     Statement of the Problem

Despite all the efforts of the present government in Akwa Ibom State to provide free and compulsory education to all children of school age, many children of Etinan Local Government Area are still hawking during school hours; some are sent out as house helps, while others engage in jobs after school in order to cater for their physiological needs (Adasigwun 2013). These prevailing situations are some kind of labour done to Nigerian children. These set of children according to Akpan (2010) do not have time to read books after school.

It is an established fait that many of such children perform poorly academically since only little attention is paid to the academic pursuit (Derasoro, Adasigwun 2013). This study therefore investigates child labour and academic achievement of pupils in mathematics

Originally posted on November 20, 2021 @ 4:29 pm