Impacts of Child Labour on School Attendance and Academic Performance of Senior Secondary School Students in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the impacts of child labour on school attendance and academic performance of secondary school students in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. five hypotheses were tested. The descriptive research design was adopted for the study. A total of 300 respondent were selected from six (6) senior secondary school students within Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State using simple random sampling technique. The research instrument used was a four point modified Rensis Likert Rating Scale Questionnaire type. Data analysis were done using descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentage and mean to answer the research questions, while the hypotheses formulated were tested using Chi-square and independent t-test statistical tool at 0.05 level of significance. The study concluded that there was a significant effect of students’ exposure to child labour on the school attendance, academic performance and study habit of senior secondary school students in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State. Also, there was a significant difference in academic performance of students exposed to child labour and those that are not in senior secondary school students in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State. But there was no significant difference in school attendance of students exposed to child labour and those that are not in senior secondary school students in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State. The study recommended that the federal government of Nigeria should work towards the eradication of poverty by providing employments to its citizens, which is the primary cause of child labour, the Government/Community should develop positive strategies to labour reduction towards a fruitful fulfillment of children’s school attendance and academic performance, such as: introducing more subsidies such as free meal tickets and reduced school bills and that the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programs should be fully implemented and monitored to take care of these children exposed work.