Child domestic work and the right to education in Uganda: A case study of Ruhinda County, Bushenyi District.

Abstract

The study was about finding out the significance of child domestic work on the right to education. Basing on UDHR article 26 that says, “Everyone has the right to education…” The CRC article (32) aims at protecting children from economic exploitation and from performing any work that interferes with the child’s education or is harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. Despite all the efforts put in place to protect children from exploitation and promoting their right to education, one wonders why such a right is not received by children due to domestic chores like fetching water and firewood, grazing to mention a few.

The research aimed at finding out the causes ,and forms of child domestic work and the effect it has on education of the children in terms of daily class performance attendance retention school dropout to mention but a few. Also, effects of child domestic work on physical growth and development, children’s morals and how such work affects the right to education.

The objectives of the study are as follows, assessing the causes of child domestic work, its forms and effects on education, and proposing new strategies on how to cope with child domestic work as far as education is concerned.

The significance of child domestic work on the right to education was assessed basing on the views got from 70 students ,3 head teachers and 10 teachers that is (15) altogether,10 parents and 1 (one) inspector of schools in charge of Ruhinda county Bushenyi District. A case study design was adopted by the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaires from respondents.interwiews were carried out with the FGD, and the researcher while in field also recorded observation down. Then data was analyzed using correlation frequencies from the SPSS program to determine the results. It was found out that the major cause of child domestic work is poverty in the homes. So luck of adequate income in homes, make parents use the labor of their children to raise it. Children are engaged in various forms of hazardous work like fetching water and firewood from the wilderness, grazing of cattle, digging, and cooking. All such work consumes a lot of school time, affect the children’s health due to occupational harzards.hence leading to poor class performance, retention, school dropout to mention but a few.

It was concluded that parents should administer work that is relevant to the age and ability of the children. Parents should make sure that, such does not impede the right to education But children should be involved in work during weekends under the supervision of their parents or should be taken to boarding schools so that learning can take place effectively and more meaningfully.

It was recommended that in order to cub down CDW, the Ministry of Gender ,Labor and Social Development, through the Ministry of Education should create awareness among children and their parents and the school community on the dangers of involving children in domestic work on health of the children and its effects on the right to education. All respondents agreed that the government should open up cheap government aided schools so that children can be able to study effectively without hindrances jeopardizing their education.