The nexus between child worker and parental background and academic performance among school children in fishing settlements in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract EN

Objective : In Nigeria, children in fishing settlements engage in lots of work-related activities ranging from domestic to fishing activities, and such children end up working to earn a living with little or no time for schooling.

This study examined the nexus between child worker and parental background and academic performance among school children in fishing settlements in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Four objectives, three research questions and corresponding hypotheses guided this study.

Methods : Two instruments; family factor questionnaire (FFQ) and interview schedule were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data respectively.

Descriptive research design was adopted for the study.

Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted, while, simple random sampling method was used to select 8 junior secondary schools, 400 respondents and 80 participants.

Data generated was analyzed using frequency count, simple percentage, independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results : The results of the study showed that most children got involved in fishing activities for several reasons, but mostly to help their poverty-stricken families and to complement the family income.

By engaging these children as child workers, the personalities and attitudes of these children are prematurely damaged and are irreparable.

Conclusion : Based on the findings reached, Hypothesis 1, which states that "There is no significant difference in the academic performance of children exploited as child workers and those who are not", and Hypothesis 2, which states that "There is no significant difference in academic performance between male and female children exploited as child workers", were rejected.

However, Hypothesis 3, which states that "There is no significant influence of parental background on students' academic performance was accepted.

Recommendations were made that parents should be discouraged from engaging their children in work that could have a negative impact on child schooling, and policy makers are expected to strictly enforce Child Right Act.

The conclusion revealed that exploiting children as child workers in any form should be discouraged.