Child Labour And Its Effect On Performance In Primary School Examinations: A Case Study Of Kiambaa, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of child labour on performance in primary school in Kiambaa sub-county Kiambu County in Kenya. Kiambaa sub-county is an agricultural area with several coffee estates and flower farms. The area has witnessed a large number of casual labourers who are glossily underpaid (Kiambu development plan; 2005-2010) recording the sub-county as one with the highest poverty levels in the county. The objectives for this study were to establish the causes of child labour in the area of study, establish the relationship between child labour and performance in primary schools and lastly to find out the measures in place to mitigate child labour among school going children. A systematic random sampling of 100 respondents was carried out; questionnaires were used to collect quantative data. While face to face in-depth interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data from key informants .The data obtained was analyzed using frequency distribution tables percentages, descriptive statistics and regression tables. From the study findings, the causes of child labour involve domestic chores which children are subjected to before going to school and after school in the evening. Fifty percent of the children studied worked for some form of payment which agrees with the ILO report (1983; 12) which observes that most children are involved in paid and un paid work. The findings, also showed that child labour affect pupil’s academic performance as was revealed on the poor academic achievements by pupils exposed to labour were mostly females, compared to their male counterparts. The study therefore recommends that the government should government should develop strategies to reduce or eradicate child labour activities as well as enforce policies on child labour spelt out in the international agreements it has signed and the constitution which spell out the rights of the children.