| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of child labour on learners' narticination in school nrozrammes in nublic dav secondarv schools within Keumou UIYL and how it affects academic performance. The study was therefore to attempt to investigate how child labour manifests itself in trading related activities, Agriculture related activities, construction related activities and in transport related activities. The study focused on how students in public day secondary schools are affected by the above mentioned activities. In the literature review for the study, various studies which touch on child labour as practiced in The United States of America .India and various parts of the world have been reviewed. From the review a conceptual framework was developed. This was a descriptive survey adopted to determine the current status of child labour practices within Keumbu Division of Kisii central District. The study focused on students in public day secondary schools and also interviewed a few principals to confirm if they are aware of the practice of child labour within their school localities.
The study targeted a population of 5581 respondents comprising of 19 principals, and 5562 learners. This study employed a sample size of 14 principals and 359 learners. All the learners completed a specific questionnaire while all the principals were interviewed by the researcher, for the purpose of data collection. The interview schedule and questionnaires' validity and reliability were tested during the pilot study, and by the help of two experts from The University of Nairobi. The data collected was summarized and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The researchers gave the summary of findings and made conclusions and recommendations that highlight the influence of child labour practices and its impact on learners' participation in public day secondary school programmes.
The study found out that students indulge in trading related activities like hawking farm products at the market places, they assist their parents in weeding planting and harvesting, they also engage in construction related activities like carrying bricks and fetching water and some are employed as boda boda riders; all these activities interfere with their participation in school programmes. The study concluded that schools' administrations and managements within the study area are either uninterested or unable to check the problem of absenteeism and/or learners' inadequate participation in school programmes. Another conclusion made was that, the learners themselves did not understand the value of attending school and participating in school programmes to better their academic progress and overall academic performance.
The study recommended that the government should put in place stringent measures to curb the practice of child labour and ensure that all children access free education. Learners within the study area should be sensitized and seminized about the value of attending school regularly and participating in school programmes. The researcher suggested that further research should be done to establish the influence of child labour in public day primary schools and also further research can be done to include all private and public schools. | en_US |
