Child labour and education – A survey of slum settlements in Dhaka (Bangladesh)

Abstract

Bangladesh has registered extraordinary advances in education, notably on access and gender equity. Yet, while the country is nearing universal primary school enrolment, drop-out rates remain high – and learning levels are poor. Urbanisation, one of the engines of Bangladesh’s development, has gone hand-in-hand with the rapid growth of urban slums, where child labour is rife.This paper describes the results of a unique, large-scale representative survey into the relationship between child labour and education in slums of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The survey covers 2700 households drawn from a listing of 4500, with children and their parents responding to a detailed questionnaire.We report a number of findings that differ from those emerged from previous research and national surveys. First, there is a high work incidence among children aged 6–14, with an average rate of 15% reported across our survey sites. Second, in contrast to previous studies, the overwhelming majority of working children are out-of-school. Third, almost all working children are involved in what both International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions and national legislation would categorise as child labour, with hazardous work figuring prominently. Fourth, the ready-made garments sector appears to be a major employer of children, accounting for two thirds of female child labour.The education system contributes to the child labour problem by creating a ‘supply’ of potential recruits. Late entry to school, grade repetition and poor-quality education all serve to push children out of education and into employment.One of the take-home messages of this research is that Bangladesh will not achieve the 2030 development goals on education without strengthened commitment to eradicate child labour; and the country will not eradicate child labour without making education compulsory and free for the 6–14 age group.