Child Labour and Performance of Pupils in Gulu Municipality, Northern Uganda

ABSTRACT The study on Child Labour and Performance of Pupils in Northern Uganda, was carried out in Gulu municipality, Northern Uganda to specifically find out; the causes of child labour; government contribution to poverty eradication in promoting performance of children and the challenges experienced by government. The study employed a descriptive study design with a sample of 50 respondents, while a questionnaire and interview guide were adopted for data collection. Study findings revealed the causes of child labour in Gulu District to be low legal enforcement, impact of war, need to supplement domestic income, and parent separation. Government effort to eradicate child labour included promoting legal measures; fighting poverty, devising strategies that free education and promoting girl child education. However, government experiences challenges of Privacy of the home settings, growing need for cheap labour, corruption and undependable statistics. Conclusively, child labour will continue to affect the achievement of learners in Gulu District if child employers are not effectively managed under the legal system, and if enough money to support family projects out of poverty is not available. The study recommends that; more funds need to be solicited from donors to eradicate family poverty; the usage of this funds has to be monitored, supervised and audited; peer reporting has to be encouraged with toll free call lines; government enforcement teams need to be monitored and classroom attendance has to be followed up.

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION iii

TABLE OF CONTENT v

LIST OF TABLE AND FIGURES ix

List of Tables ix

List of figures ix

LIST OF ACRONYMS ix

ABSTRACT Xi

CHAPTER ONE 1

GENERAL OVERVIEW 1

1.Olntroduction 1

1.lBackground of the Study 1

LLlHistorical Background 1

LL≥tonceptual Background 1

Ll3Fheoretical Background 2

1.2Statement of the Problem 3

1.3 Purpose of the Study 4

1.4 Objectives of the Study 4

1.4.lGeneral Objective 4

1.4.2 Specific Objectives 4

1.6Research Questions 4

1.7Hypothesis of the Study 4

1.8Scope of the Study 5

1.8.lGeographical Scope 5

1.7.2Content Scope 5

V

1.4.3Theoretical Scope .5

1.4.4Time Scope 5

1.5Significance of the Study 5

1.6 Conceptual Framework Showing the Impact of Child Labour on Performance of

Pupils 7

CHAPTER TWO 8

LITERATURE REVIEW 8

2.Olntroduction 8

2.lTheoretical Framework 8

2.2 Causes of Child Labour 8

2.2.lChiId Headed Households and the Need to Survive 8

2.2.2Situations of Armed Conflict 9

2.2.3Poverty and the Need to Supplement Family Incomes 9

2.2.4Population Growth and Poor /Legal Enforcement 9

2.2.5Loss of Parents 10

2.2The Role of Government in Curbing Child Labour 10

2.2.lPromoting Girl Child Education 10

2.2.2Sponsoring Child Aid Programmes 10

2.2.3Supporting Families Out of Poverty 11

2.2.4Free Universal Primary and Secondary Education 12

2.2.5Creating a Legal and Policy Framework to Regulate Child Labour 13

2.3Challenges Experienced in Curbing Child Labour 14

2.3.lThe Need for Child Labour 14

2.3.2The Growing Need for Cheap Labour and Corruption 15

2.3.3Employment of Children in Domestic Work Setting 15

2.3.4Lack of Accurate Statistics 15

CHAPTERTHREE 17

METHODOLOGY 17

vi

3.Olntroduction .17

3.lResearch Design 17

3.3Sample Size 17

3.4Sample Procedure 18

3.5Data Collection 18

3.5.lSources of Data 18

3.6Data Processing 19

3.7Data Analysis 19

3.8Ethical Consideration 19

CHAPTER FOUR 20

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF DATA 20

4.1 Introduction 20

4.2Profile of Respondents 20

4.2. iGender of the Respondents 20

4.2.2Age of Respondents 21

4.2.3Marital Status of Respondents 22

4.2.4Education Level of Respondents 23

4.3Causes of Child Labour in Gulu District 25

4.4Role Played by Government in Eradicating Child Labour to Promote Academic

Performance 28

4.4Challenges Encountered by Government in Eradicating Child Labour in Gulu 32

Challenges 33

CHAPTER FIVE 36

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 36

5.0 Introduction 36

This chapter provides a summary, conclusions and recommendations of the study

findings as presented in chapter four 36

5.1 Summary of the Findings 36

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5.1.1 Causes of Child Labour in Gulu Municipality~36

5.1.2 Role Played by Government in Eradicating Child Labour to Promote Academic

Performance 37

5.1.3 Challenges Encountered by Government in Eradicating Child Labour in Gulu 37

5.2 Conclusions 38

5.2.1 Causes of Child Labour in Gulu District 38

5.2.2 Role Played by Government in Eradicating Child Labour to Promote Academic

Performance 38

5.2.3 Challenges Encountered by Government in Eradicating Child Labour in Gulu 38

5.3 Recommendations 39

REFERENCES 41

APPENDIX (A)~ 43

QUESTIONNAIRE SCHEDULES 43