EFFECT OF CHILD LABOUR ON SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN YABA LAGOS STATE
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EFFECT OF CHILD LABOUR ON SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN YABA LAGOS STATE
Chapter one
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Of the Study
Child labour has existed throughout human history. It has occurred since the beginning of time. In African/Nigerian society, what constitutes labour today has never been considered labour. It has been viewed as a method of preparing the child to be a well-behaved, disciplined, and self-actualized citizen in society.
Children are naturally exposed to a wide range of experiences from their parents, carers, and other adults in society from the moment they are born. This is to ensure that the children acquire the basic norms and abilities required for effective engagement in the society to which they belong, as well as for personal growth and development.
The process of learning these abilities can be difficult for youngsters. Some parents and carers make mastering these skills so challenging that the children may struggle to cope.
The challenges stem from the environment in which children are raised as they strive to develop the abilities necessary to become disciplined and hard-working adults.
When these conditions are overstretched, it becomes labour. For example, when a youngster is taught the skills of being a farmer, he is taken to the field, where he practices these abilities and is kept on the farm from dawn to dusk, without rest or a good meal, this becomes labour (Apebende, Umoren, Ukpepi, and Ndifon, 2010).
It may also be usual for a child to be instructed to hawk from morning to evening, or to sell before going to school and then continue until sunset. This becomes a labour.
According to Orere-Clifferd (2011), children are subjected to child work because their parents and guardians demand far more from them than the youngsters are willing to bear. The majority of pupils in our public elementary schools find themselves in this circumstance on a regular basis.
Child labour exists in all societies and social classes. It can be found in rich or poor, illiterate or literate houses. The parents exploit their children by constantly employing them in farm work, trading, and companies.
This is done to supplement the household income and, on occasion, to meet the needs of the children. Their parents may occasionally ask them to work as housekeepers, cooks, babysitters, or gardeners to supplement the family’s income (Apebende, Umoren, Ukpepi, and Ndifon, 2010).
The wealthy, on the other hand, have enough to provide for their children, but often exploit the children they hire as housekeepers and cooks. This is accomplished by overworking the servants on everyday housework while their own children are overpampered.
The servants or housekeepers work continuously, without rest. Others lack adequate nutrition, clothing, and, in some cases, a place to sleep. Some are handled as if they were animals, being beaten, kicked, and shoved, with hot oil, water, and even acid being used on them. (Falaye. 2013).
Many more carers used derogatory terms like “good for nothing” and “block head.” Some people get fatigued hands and feet and are imprisoned in a room for hours or days. These activities dishearten the child (Falaye, 2013).
Those who attend school may be distracted in class due to homework. The classroom may be the only place where they can rest from such home activities, therefore they may fall asleep in class. As a result, they may miss out on classroom activities and hence fail to learn (Apebende, Umoren, Ukpepi, and Ndifon, 2010).
Children of wealthy parents may not be allowed to participate in regular household activities. As a result, they may be unable to cook, clean, or care for their home. This involves labour because the child must be exposed to such tasks because it is likely that the child would require such knowledge in the future (Falaye, 2013).
Child labour is defined as the process by which children are subjected to abuse by their parents or guardians (Apebende, Umoren, Ukpepi, and Ndifon, 2010). Axmaher (2010) defined child labour as any mistreatment or neglect of a kid that causes non-accidental harm or injury that cannot be rationally explained.
Obekpa (2011) defines child labour as any condition that is harmful to physical or emotional health and is caused by parents, guardians, or other carers. Igbo and Ekoja (2013) define it as a non-accidental damage inflicted on a child by a parent or guardian.
Isanghedehi (2004) defined labour in three ways: physical, emotional, and sexual. According to Oniyama, Oniyama, and Asamaigbo (2004), child labour can be divided into four categories: physical labour, sexual labour, emotional labour, and neglect.
Physical work refers to any interaction with the child’s body that may cause injury. Such contact may include beating, hitting, kicking, shaking, punching, biting, or any other act or omission that is not an accident but causes physical harm to the kid.
Emotional labour is defined as any act by a parent or carer that has the potential to create or has resulted in major emotional cognitive, mental, or behavioural issues.
Emotional labour is visible when a parent or carer uses abusive words on the child, such as blockhead, good for nothing, or a mistake, or when the youngster is locked up in a room, exhausted both physically and mentally, or denied the opportunity to make friends.
According to Mba (2013), emotional labour is repeatedly blaming the child, ridiculing and/or berating the child, being careless about the child’s wellbeing, and overt rejection of the child by parents, caretakers, or carers.
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