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Liminality and Child Labour: Experiences of School Aged Working Children with Implications for Community Education in Africa

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  • Okechukwu Stephen Chukwudeh

    (Community-Based Educational Research (COMBER), Faculty of Education, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa)

  • Akpovire Oduaran

    (Community-Based Educational Research (COMBER), Faculty of Education, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa)

Abstract

Background: Liminality brings confusion among children as they cannot progress to the next stage of life, neither could they regress to their previous state of events. The situation is precarious for socioeconomic deprived children in Africa as it cast aspersion on their career, health and well-being. The study, therefore, examines the experiences’ of children who were supposed to be in school but were observed working at the informal market space in Africa. Methods: Qualitative data was collected through referral and non-discriminative snowballing. Fourty-eight participants (48-KII 2, IDI 10, FGD 6–6 person per group, total 36) from Aleshinloye and Bodija markets in Southwest Nigeria were included in the study. Results: Parental poverty, poor education facilities, peer influence, and the frequent strike by education institutions (pre-tertiary and tertiary) were implicated for the prevalence of child labour in the informal market space in Southwest Nigeria. Conclusions: The negative consequences of the liminality stage far outweigh the positive. Therefore, there is a need for conscientious efforts by community leaders, parents, and relevant stakeholders in the society to eradicate snags within the liminality of children’s education in order to curb child labour. This is necessary to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030.

Suggested Citation

  • Okechukwu Stephen Chukwudeh & Akpovire Oduaran, 2021. "Liminality and Child Labour: Experiences of School Aged Working Children with Implications for Community Education in Africa," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:10:y:2021:i:3:p:93-:d:512220
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ana Cristina O. Siqueira & Justin W. Webb & Garry D. Bruton, 2016. "Informal Entrepreneurship and Industry Conditions," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 40(1), pages 177-200, January.
    2. Kathleen Beegle & Rajeev Dehejia & Roberta Gatti, 2009. "Why Should We Care About Child Labor?: The Education, Labor Market, and Health Consequences of Child Labor," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 44(4).
    3. Fuseini, Tufeiru & Daniel, Marguerite, 2020. "Child begging, as a manifestation of child labour in Dagbon of Northern Ghana, the perspectives of mallams and parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    4. Janet Currie, 2020. "Child health as human capital," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(4), pages 452-463, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dagim Dawit Gonsamo & Herman Hay Ming Lo & Ko Ling Chan, 2021. "The Role of Stomach Infrastructures on Children’s Work and Child Labour in Africa: Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-26, August.

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