Analysis on the effect of child labour on pupils’ academic performance in Uganda: a case study of Busedde Sub-county, Jinja District

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact child labour on pupils‟ academic performance taking a case study of Busedde Sub County to use the findings to come up with measures to stop or reduce child labour. The objectives of the study were; to find out the different activities that children are engaged in, to establish the causes of child labour in that area, to find out the measures in place to stop child labour among school going children and to establish the relationship between child labour and academic performance. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The sample size was 100 teachers and 100 pupils. Questionnaires were used to collect the data and this data was primary data and was analyzed by use of content analysis and STATA using frequency tables, graphs and pie charts. The study revealed that child labour has a negative impact on pupils‟ academic performance as it makes pupils tired, late for school, being absent from school and eventually drop out. The most common type of work that children did was household chores. Other type of work done by pupils was cultivating, sugarcane cutting and brick making. Parents were the ones mostly assigning pupils work. The study concluded that guidance and counseling need to be strengthened for both pupils and parents to know the evils associated with child labour.