Browsing by Author "Chubwa, Rachel"

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    The impact of child labour on children’s educational attainment: a case study of Kinondoni municipality, Dar es Salaam
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2013) Chubwa, Rachel
    This study examined the impact of child labour on children’s educational attainment. It is based on resource-dilution model which argues that children dilute household resources and therefore they may be required to work to support household income. It also uses the time allocation model which posits that the time a child spends on work compromises the time to study. The main objective was to investigate the impact of child labour on school performance; focusing specifically on different types of child labour activities and the way they impact school attendance and consequently performance. It also investigated on the children’s perceptions on the effects of combining work with schooling. Questionnaire interviews were used to collect data from 230 children (aged 6 to 16 years) who combine work with schooling in Kinondoni Municipal in Dar es Salaam Region. Discussions were held with discipline teachers and heads of schools, and observations were conducted at the study sites. The findings indicate that school children in Dar es Salaam are involved in various labour activities, including quarrying, scavenging and petty business. Some involve in child labour on their own consent, and others are required to do so by their respective households. The benefits accruing from their labour are mainly to meet household needs as well as educational costs. Child labour was found to have detrimental effects on educational attainment. It was reported to reduce school attendance and punctuality, as well as time to study. Some of the respondents admitted that their performance in tests and examinations was lower than that of their colleagues who did not combine work with schooling. Although the perceived benefits and observed consequences of child labour divided the respondents’ opinion on whether child labour should be abolished or not, it was recommended that policies and strategies to address poverty and eliminate child labour should be affected. Further, direct and indirect costs of education should be reduced.