CHILD LABOUR AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KIAMBAA DIVISION, KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of child labour on school attendance in public primary schools in kiambaa division in Kiambu County. Child labour is a persistent problem in Kenya as well as in the other parts of the world. Child labour affects education negatively. However, the reviewed literature doesn’t reveal any study that has been conducted in Kiambaa Division on how child labour affects school attendance. Hence, the motivation of this study. The study was guided by four research questions namely: What causes child labour in Kiambaa Division and in turn affect public primary school attendance?; What types of work are engaged in by children in Kiambaa division?; To what extent does child labour affect the education of children in Kiambaa Division?, and What policy measures should be put in place to curb child labour in Kiambaa Division?The study used cross-sectional survey research design. The target population included pupils, teachers, and head teachers. Data were collected by use of questionnaires, structured interview guide, focused group discussion guide, and observation schedule. Data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Findings from the study show that child labour is prevalent in Kiambaa division, most children combine work with schooling with most of them being involved in unpaid work within their families. Single parenthood, poverty, low educational level, and negative attitude of parents towards education are the major causes of child labour. School related factors like poor educational quality also contribute to child labour. Major types of work done by children are household work and working in family businesses. Working was found to affect children’s education and was largely responsible for the children’s poor academic performance. Some of the measures proposed to curb child labor include: punishment of parents who don’t take children to school, making Free Primary Education compulsory, economic empowerment of women, punishment of parents and employers who embrace child labour, educating parents on importance of education, and making Free Primary Education totally free amongst others