Abstract:

This study was conducted to find the influence of Child Labor (CL) on students’ academic performance at elementary school level in district Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Pakistan. The objective of the study was to compare Non-Child Labor (NCL) and Child Labor (CL) students over academic performance. To achieve the objective, causal-comparative research design was employed. Two hundred (200) students of grade 8th were selected through stratified random sampling techniques in such a way that the number of students in each stratum remained 100 (NCL = 100 and CL = 100 students). Two tools including a proforma for identification of children involved in CL, and Academic Performance Test (APT) consisted of five sections (English, General Science, Math, Social study, and Geography) were used to collect data. The reliability coefficient of the test was 0.785. Students’ responses were sorted out on APT consisting of 100 MCQs on four options. The analyzed data revealed that the NCL students were found superior to CL students in all sections of the academic performance and overall academic performance. It was recommended that the government, in close collaborations with NGOs, may reduce this gap through establishing Working Children Schools (WCS), and Evening Schools (ES) at urban and semi urban area in district Haripur. Further, the authorities at local level may establish free tuition centers in evening where students of social work of all educational institutions may teach to the working children to bridge the gap between NCL and CL children.

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