STREET HAWKING AND ITS EFFECTS ON PUPILS' EDUCATION IN PUBLIC BASIC SCHOOLS IN THE TAMALE METROPOLIS OF GHANA

Abstract

It is common to see children of school going age hawking on the streets of cities, which has been reported as the second highest economic activity engaged by children. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of street hawking on pupils education in public basic schools in the Tamale metropolis in the Northern region of Ghana. This included causes of street hawking among children, effect of hawking on pupils' academic performance, and school attendance. The study was cross sectional consisting of both quantitative and qualitative data. Simple random, stratified and purposive sampling methods were used to select public schools and respondents. The quantitative data was analyzed using t test, cross-tabulation and frequencies distribution table. Quantitative data was presented in bar and pie charts. Qualitative data was analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Children were compelled to combine schooling and hawking due to reasons such as low education level of parents, low socio-economic status of parents, idleness of children after school, hawking as a form of training etc. Though children were introduced into hawking by different people, majority, 67% of respondents were influenced into it by their mothers. The study revealed that hawking done by pupils did not affect their school attendance. Academic performances of pupils were negatively affected by hawking. The state and NGOs should economically empower parents especially those who have never been to school and those who after basic education could not continue to the next level of education. This and others were recommended to help reduce or eliminate child-street hawking in the Tamale metropolis.