CHILD LABOURING ACTIVITIES AND ACADEMIC INEFFICIENCY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ILORIN METROPOLIS

Hanafi, Alimat Yetunde; Abdulrahman, Ibrahim & Yusuf, Habeeb

Abstract

Child abuse is an act of inflicting serious, physical injury and emotional torture on a child or person, which is intentional or unintentional and could endanger the physical, health, emotional, social, moral and educational wellness of the child. The contributing factor of child abuse can be identified as poverty and ignorance on the part of the parents or guardians and others. Observing the alarming endless cry of students and those hurt in the process and maltreatment, the researcher was therefore interested in investigating child abuse as it affect the academic efficiency of secondary school students in Ilorin metropolis. To achieve this purpose three (3) research questions were formulated to guide the study. A sample of 150 respondents was randomly selected for the study. The selection was done through simple random sampling technique. The questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The simple percentage distribution was used to analyze data collected through the administration of questionnaire. The result of the analysis revealed that child laboring activities greatly influence secondary school students’ academic performance in Ilorin metropolis. Based on the findings recommendations were made on the need to educate and intensified campaigns, especially on creation of awareness on the menace of child laboring activities – physical and sexual abuse as they deaden the future of the child, family and society.