Title: Effects Of Child Labour On Schooling And Academic Achievement In Public Secondary Schools In Oyo West Lga, Nigeria
Authors: Akinola Gbadebo ANIMASAUN (Ph.D), Wasiu Mayowa OYERINDE, Basirat Opeyemi, WAHAB
Volume: 10
Issue: 4
Pages: 44-50
Publication Date: 2026/04/28
Abstract:
This study investigated the effects of child labour on schooling and academic achievement in public secondary schools in Oyo West Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total of 300 respondents were selected from six public secondary schools within Oyo West Local Government Area of Oyo State through stratified and simple random sampling, representing various class levels and genders. Data were collected using the Child Labour, Schooling, and Academic Achievement Questionnaire (CLSAAQ), which was validated and piloted with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.79, demonstrating reliability. The study tested three hypotheses using Chi-square and independent t-tests at a 0.05 significance level. The results revealed significant relationship between students' exposure to child labour and academic achievement (r = 0.70, p < 0.05) and also a significant relationship between students' exposure to child labour and schooling (r = 0.60, p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the academic achievement of male and female students exposed to child labour (t = 0.12, df = 298, p > 0.05). The findings highlight that child labour negatively impacts students' academic achievement and school attendance, regardless of gender. The study recommends that the Nigerian government should take steps to alleviate poverty, which is a major driver of child labour, and implement programs such as after-school catch-up classes and conditional cash transfers for vulnerable families to reduce child labour. Parents and communities should be made aware of the detrimental effects of child labour, and child labour laws should be strictly enforced to protect all children, regardless of gender.