CHILD LABOUR IN THE FISHING INDUSTRY AND ITS IMPACT ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF PUPILS KPANDO MUNICIPALITY, GHANA (2009 - 2014)

Abstract

Children in the Kpandu Municipality especially those residing in communities very close to the lake side engage in fishing related activities which affect their school attendance, academic performance and expose them to serious health issues. This prompted the researcher to look at the impact of child labour on the academic performance of children in the Kpandu Municipality. Three specific objectives were set out to achieve the main objective. The first objective was to identify the factors that accounts for child labour, second is to identify if there is difference in academic performance between children who reside in communities very close to the lake and those in communities distance from the Lake and the final objective is to identify the effect of child labour on the children's academic performance. The study employed mixed research design and used a sample size of 252 to solicit information from the respondents. Using weighted likert scale the study concluded that Parents/Guardians negligence, uncontrolled access to Ghana water bodies, low household incomes, cultural factors such as beliefs, values, parent's level of education, natural pupils abilities, peer pressure and broken homes are the causes of child labour. The independent sample t Test also revealed that there is difference between the academic performance of children residing in communities very close to the lake and children staying distance communities because children in communities farther away from the lake performed better than children staying close to the Lake. Child labour measured by engagement in work, doing homework, nature of work load and school attendance by children have negative effect on the children's academic performance. The study recommended that the government should resource joint naval and marine police unit to patrol the lake so that parents who engage pupils in fishing and its value chain activities especially during instructional hours are arrested and prosecuted.