Understanding experiences of child labour: A grounded theory perspective

Abstract

Child labour is a global canker that plagues developing countries more with one in four children involved. Using the grounded theory design, we explore the experiences and consequences relating to educational and career aspirations of 10 purposively selected basic school students engaged in child labour activities from two Junior High Schools in fishing communities in the Cape Coast Municipality. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to gather data. Data were then coded, analysed and a theoretical model developed describing the six components of Strauss and Corbin’s (1990) paradigm model designed for grounded theory research. We found that though fishing and its related activities abound in the fishing villages, participants also engaged in farming activities such as cutting and selling thatch, and weaving and selling kloba.1 Despite it being very dangerous, the kloba work was more lucrative sometimes than fishing activities. It also emerged that participants have little or no knowledge of the link between academic programs and their related jobs. We conclude that participants have limited exposure on various career information and choices available to them. We recommend that school counsellors and other social workers educate parents, children and significant others on the hazardous nature of child labour on pupils’ education, and optimum development; and to provide career information and opportunities to these children.