Does Child Labor Lead To Bad Education Or The Other Way Round?

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Why Child Labor Exists?
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) (2017a), it is estimated that by 2016 approximately 152 million children were involved in child labor across the world (p. 23). There are various forms of children’s work with different levels of danger and demands. ILO has defined child labor as work that affects children in a negative manner by denying them their childhood and a chance to realize their potentials and dignity. Sometimes child labor is considered to be hazardous or safe. In some cases children’s wok has potential benefits and harm to children; therefore, assessing both positive and negative impacts will be more helpful in applying general standards. In most cases, child labor interferes with the formal education of children by denying them the chance of attending schools to learn, making them drop out of school or balance between work and school. Majority of children rights organizations and initiatives believe that child labor and education should not co-exist. They also believe that child labor is a barrier to Education for All (EFA) initiative. Moreover, it is believed that child labor has negative impacts on the health status of children later in their adult lives.
Question
Does child labor lead to bad education or the other way round?
Child labor is one of the common issues affecting children education in different parts of the world. According to Beegle, Dehejia, and Gatti (2009), child labor has a few far-reaching consequences on child education. The researchers established that child labor can lead to about 46% reduction of the probability of the children attending school and it can lead to a 21% decrease in attainment of education. The researchers establish that child labor can lead to about 46% reduction of the probability of the children attending school and it can lead to a 21% decrease in the attainment of education by the children (Beegle, Dehejia and Gatti p. 872). In his study, Naidu (2002) attempted to shade more insights into the various factors that influence the existence of child labor. He notes that
Child labour largely depends upon normative attitudes towards children in society, the culturally determined roles and functions of children, the values by which the activities of children are judged and the nature of socialization process. In industrialized countries, there is general disapproval of participation of school age children in the formal labour force. The participation of children in housework is approved, by parents at least. In many countries, participation in various types of economic activities from an early age is considered as an essential part of socialization. The prevailing modes of domestic organisations and system of kinship and marriage also affect child labour. What children must do is influenced by what the system of kinship considers the rights and obligations of children. In many places, the delegation of aspects of parental roles, and the institutionalized practice of fostering of children by non-parental kin, involves widespread transfers of the obligation to train and maintain children and the right to enjoy the services of the young. Such practices may involve an element of apprenticeship and specialist training (T M Dak. (Eds.) 2002, Child Labour in India, Serials Publications, Pp. 24-25).
The purpose of this paper is to examine the existence of child labor and the contributing factors to child labor. Understanding the main causes of child labor is important as it will help to come up with appropriate strategies to prevent the rising incidences of child labor among the children. Child education is important and it has many effects on the development of the nation. Researchers have observed that child labor can double the probability of working for wages among the children for about five years (Beegle, Dehejia and Gatti p. 872). This means that when children engage in child labor, there is wastage of time which in turn affects their wage attainment.
Literature Review and Innovation
The primary purpose of a review of the literature is to make a short review of previous works that attempted to address the problem and their significant findings. Currently, this review presents a summary of the existing knowledge about the problem in order to understand the various concepts relating to child labor. Moreover, it explores the existing gaps.
The main paper used for this study contains a number of case studies on the effects of child labor on a number of aspects such as the labor market, health, and education. Due to the empirical data contained in this research article, it qualifies as a credible source of information to help us understand the effects of child labor. Most of the papers that I found on the topic relied heavily on the work of the other researchers and as such, they would not serve as a credible source of information. The data obtained from the empirical studies carried out by the researchers would also be interpreted differently depending on the needs of our research which is to understand the main causes of child labor. The data from these empirical studies have also been explained in depth to understand the effects. The authors provide a step by step analysis of how these effects come about and how they can inhibit the growth of the child and contribute to the above-mentioned factors.
Comparative Review
Empirical Models
Beegle, Dehejia and Gatti identified their base specifications and imposed some restrictions on them. First, they structured their data into two sets, first between 1992 and 1993 while the second set between 1997 and 1998. Only those children who had participated in child labor were included in the study. The outcomes were measured after five years. The authors imposed various restrictions, first they set the age limit to be between 8 and 13 and considered labor above 14 years older not to be a serious form of child labor. Secondly, they allowed only those who were attending school at the time. To measure the existence of child labor, the authors considered a variable which has a great impact in the Vietnamese economy, community rice prices; therefore, they considered it to be relevant to child labor.
Basu and Tzannatos utilizes various models to shed light on the existence of child labor. Generally, they rely on the basic model of poverty, substitution and social norm. This model holds that if a household has one provider and is poor, the children will have to play a role in creating substitution income to the family. This model implies that adults and children are substitutes to each other in the essence that children are capable of doing what adults can do. Edmond (2005) utilized the same model that Basu and Tzannatos used.
Data
Beegle, Dehejia and Gatti used data from the Vietnam Living Standards (VLSS) which is a household survey conducted between 1992 and 1993 and 1997 and 1998. The surveys were conducted by the Vietnam’s General Statistics Office. To measure the variables, the authors consider the wages of the children and the community-level rice prices. Basu and Tzannatos utilizes data from previous studies such data used by Cigno and Rosati (2001) from the Human Development of India Survey which was conducted by the National Council for Applied Economic Research, New Delhi; and International Labor Organization estimates. Edmond utilizes the same data that Beegle, Dehejia and Gatti extracted from the Vietnam Living Standards Surveys (VLSS) of 1992-93 and 1997-98.
Results
Beegle, Dehejia and Gatti’s study found out that working as children lowers the level of their school attendance significantly. The study found out that child labor leads to a decline of school attendance by 46%. In determining the impact of child labor on health status, the authors examined the frequency and duration of illness as well as the body mass index (BMI). The authors identified that child labor affected the health status of children who were in school. In general, the results of child labor on health are mixed. It has negative impacts to others whereas it has no effect to others. The authors conclude by asserting that child labor has a significant effect in wage work later in life implying improved living standards. On the other hand, they note that the increased participa...