Child Labour and Academic Performance of Pupils in Kizinda Kigoma Town Council of Bushenyi District, Uganda

Abstract

This study examines child labour and academic performance of pupils in Kizinda-Kigoma schools of Bushenyi District. Findings revealed that the aspects of child labour engaged by pupils in Kizinda-KigomaTown Council of Bushenyi District include working as maids, carrying heavy utensils to fetch water, working at teachers’gardens, with the older family members, fetching water and cooking for teachers. Findings further revealed that the causes of school dropout among children in Kizinda-Kigoma town include school fees problem, poor learning environment, discrimination within the community, stigmatization by other pupils, poor means of transport to and from school, lack of motivation to the disabled group, and lack of facilities that fit the learning ability of the disabled children. Based on the findings, the study calls for the need to create gender-sensitive learning spaces for girls to ensure equitable education, and safeguarding girls in classrooms by eliminating violence there is need to encourage the student to attend school frequently and participate in at least one extracurricular activity at school or with other students. More so, there is need to Improve education quality to enhance student retention and success. Furthermore, there is urgent need to cost of acquiring education including school feeding facilities and increase universal child payments as part of a country's social safety system and other policy instruments that could promote more equitable education access. Keywords: Academic performance, Child labour, Education, Learning environment, Pupils