Is child labor a barrier to school enrollment in low- and middle-income countries?

Abstract

Achieving universal primary education is one of the Millennium Development Goals. In low- and middle-income developing countries (LMIC), child labor may be a barrier. Few multi-country, controlled studies of the relations between different kinds of child labor and schooling are available. This study employs 186,795 families with 7- to 14-year-old children in 30 LMIC to explore relations of children’s work outside the home, family work, and household chores with school enrollment. Significant negative relations emerged between each form of child labor and school enrollment, but relations were more consistent for family work and household chores than work outside the home. All relations were moderated by country and sometimes by gender. These differentiated findings have nuanced policy implications.

Shifting of economic responsibilities on vulnerable shoulders for survival of families: a scenario from mining industry in India

“…Child labour is physically, mentally, socially and morally dangerous and harmful to children, and also negatively relates to school attendance and learning. 28,29 Although there is provision of free and compulsory education for children between 6 to 14 years of age, and prohibition of employment of children between 14 to 18 years of age in hazardous occupations in Constitution of India, yet child labour is quite prevalent in India. 30 Children are forced into labor and sometimes in hazardous occupations due to poverty and to pay family debt.…”

Does the Unavailability of Educational Resources in Schools Determine Child Labor in Sub-Saharan Africa? A Micro-econometric Analysis from Cȏte d’ivoire

“…The basic theory on child labor is the one of Basu and Van [19]. This theory based on income poverty, provides an explanation of child labor.…”

Does Domestic Work Affect the Academic Performance of Girls in Primary School in Côte d’Ivoire? Empirical Evidence from Probit Model

“…Long ignored in the studies of child labour, domestic work is now increasingly highlighted (Punick & Bornstein, 2015;Webbink, et al, 2012;Zapata, et al, 2011;Assaad, et al, 2010). Indeed, this form of activity can interfere in the education of girls and promote their failure (Zapata, et al, 2011;Assaad, et al, 2010).…”

“…However, with the accentuation of crises in recent years, the socializing work has become an exploitation of children (Schlemmer, 1996). Therefore, domestic work, which is considered as an activity accomplished in the home, may interfere with children's schooling and have negative effects particularly on the 369 educational outcomes of girls (Punick & Bornstein, 2015;Zapata et al, 2011;Assaad, et al, 2010). In general, this type of activity is devoted to girls (Zapata et al, 2011;Diallo, 2001).…”