Child Migration and Dropping Out of Basic School in Ghana: The Case of Children in a Fishing Community
Author(s)
Eric Daniel Ananga
Affiliation(s)
National Centre for Research into Basic Education (NCRIBE), University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.
National Centre for Research into Basic Education (NCRIBE), University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.
ABSTRACT
The government of Ghana’s effort on increasing access to basic education led to removal of school fees, introduction of capitation grants, school feeding and free school uniforms. While such moves have been applauded leading to improved access, child migration remains a barrier to educational access for children living in fishing communities in Ghana. This paper presents the experiences of schoolchildren who drop out of school as a result of child labour and seasonal migration. The central questions of the study are how and why migration acts as a barrier to education of children who had initial access. The paper presents in-depth analysis of qualitative data. The findings presented in the paper demonstrate that children enroll and attend school until they begin to migrate during mid-school sessions resulting in their exclusion from basic school. The paper concludes by highlighting some policy implications of children’s seasonal migration during school sessions and access to basic school in Ghana.
Cite this paper
Ananga, E. (2013). Child Migration and Dropping Out of Basic School in Ghana: The Case of Children in a Fishing Community. Creative Education, 4, 405-410. doi: 10.4236/ce.2013.46057.
Ananga, E. (2013). Child Migration and Dropping Out of Basic School in Ghana: The Case of Children in a Fishing Community. Creative Education, 4, 405-410. doi: 10.4236/ce.2013.46057.
References
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[1] Admassie, A. (2003). Child labour and schooling in the context of a subsistence rural economy: Can they be compatible? International Journal of Educational Development, 23, 167-185. doi:10.1016/S0738-0593(02)00012-3 [2] Akyeampong, A. K., Djangmah, J., Oduro, A., Seidu, A., & Hunt, F. (2007). Access to basic education in Ghana: The evidence and the issues. Consortium for Research into Educational Access Transition and Equity (CREATE), Country Analytic Review. Brighton: University of Sussex. [3] Ampiah, G., & Adu-Yeboah C. (2009). Mapping the incidence of school dropouts: A case study of communities in northern Ghana. Compartive Education, 45, 219-232. doi:10.1080/03050060902920625 [4] Ananga, E. D. (2011). Typology of dropout: The dimensions and dynamics of dropout in Ghana. International Journal of Educational Development, 31, 374-381. doi:10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.01.006 [5] Andvig, J., Canagarajah, S., & Kielland, A. (2001). Issues in child labour in Africa, human development sector Africa region. Working Paper, Washington DC: World Bank. [6] Brock, C., & Cammish, N. (1997). Factors affecting female participation in education in seven developing Countries. Educational Paper No. 9 DFID, London. [7] Buchmann, C., & Brakewood, D. (2000). Labor structure and school enrollments in developing societies: Thailand and Kenya compared. Comparative Education Review, 44, 175-204. doi:10.1086/447602 [8] Canagarajah, S., & Coulombe, H. (1997). Child labor and schooling in Ghana: Labor markets and poverty. Washington DC: World Bank. [9] Cardoso, A. R., & Verner, D. (2007). School drop-out and push-out factors in Brazil: The role of early parenthood, child labor, and poverty. IZA Discussion Paper No 2515, Bonn: Institute for the Study of Labour (IZA). [10] Care International (2003). Reaching underserved populations with basic education in deprived areas in Ghana: Emerging good practices. Washington DC: USAID. [11] Colclough, C. Al-Samarrai, S. Rose, P., & Tembon, M. (2003). Achieving schooling for all in Africa. England: Ashgate. [12] Colclough, C., Rose, P., & Tembon, M. (2000). Gender inequalities in primary schooling: The roles of poverty and adverse cultural practice, International Journal of Educational Development, 20, 5-27. doi:10.1016/S0738-0593(99)00046-2 [13] Dumas, C., Glick, P., Lambert, S., Sahn., D., & L. Sarr. (2004). Progression through school and academic performance in Senegal: Descriptive survey results. Working Paper, Washington DC: World Bank. [14] Duryea, S. (2003). School attendance, child labor and local labor market fluctuations in Urban Brazil. World Development, 31, 1165-1178. doi:10.1016/S0305-750X(03)00065-2 [15] Ersado, L. (2005). Child labor and schooling decisions in urban and rural areas: Comparative evidence from Nepal, Peru, and Zimbabwe. World Development, 33, 455-480. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.09.009 [16] Edmonds, E., & Shreta, M. (2009). Children’s work and independent child migration: A critical review. Innocenti Working Paper, No. 2009-19, Florence: UNICEF. [17] Fentiman, A., Hall, A., & Bundy, D. (1999). School enrolment patterns in rural Ghana: A comparative study of the impact of location, gender, age and health on children’s access to basic schooling. Comparative Education, 35, 331-349. doi:10.1080/03050069927865 [18] Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) (2003). Ghana child labour survey. Accra: Ghana. [19] Guarcello, L., Lyon, S., & Rosati, F. (2005). Impact of Children’s Work on School Attendance and Performance: A Review of School Survey Evidence from Five Countries. Understanding Children’s Work; UCW-SIMPAC Working Paper March 2005, An inter-agency research co-operative project. ILO, UNICEF, World Bank. Geneva. [20] Hadley, S. (2010). Seasonality and access to education: The case of primary education in sub-Saharan Africa. Consortium for Research into Educational Access Transition and Equity (CREATE), Working Paper No. 31. Brighton: University of Sussex. [21] Hashim, I. M. (2004). Working with working children: Child labour and the barriers to education in rural North-Eastern Ghana. Ph.D. Thesis, Brighton: University of Sussex. [22] Hashim, I. M. (2005). Exploring the linkages between children’s independent migration and education: Evidence from Ghana, DRC on migration, globalization and poverty. Brighton: University of Sussex. [23] Hashim, I. M. (2006). The positive and negatives of children’s independent migration. Working Paper: Centre for Migration Research, Sussex University. [24] Hunt, F. (2008). Dropping out from school: A cross country review of literature. Consortium for Research into Educational Access Transition and Equity (CREATE), Working Paper No. 16. Brighton: University of Sussex. [25] Hunter, N., & May, J. (2003). Poverty, shocks and school disruption episodes among adolescents in South Africa. Centre for Social and Development Studies Working Paper, No. 35. Durban: School of Development Studies, University of Natal. [26] Huisman, J., & Smits, J. (2009). Keeping children in school: Household and district level determinants of school dropout in 322 districts of 30 developing countries. Nijmegen Center for Economics (NiCE) Working Paper, No. 09-105. Nigmejen: Radboud University [27] ILO/IPEC (2004). Helping hands or shackled lives? Understanding child domestic labour and responses to it. Geneva: ILO. [28] Jacoby, H. G., & Skoufias, E. (1997). Risk, financial markets, and human capital in a developing country. Review of Economic Studies, 64, 311-335. doi:10.2307/2971716 [29] Lewin, K. M. (2007). Improving access, equity and transitions in education: Creating a research agenda. Consortium for Research into Educational Access Transition and Equity (CREATE), Working Pa per No. 1. Brighton: University of Sussex. [30] Ministry of Education Science and Sports (2005). Preliminary education sector performance report. Accra: Ministry of Education. [31] Ministry of Education Science and Sports (2006). Preliminary education sector performance report. Accra: Ministry of Education. [32] Ministry of Education Science and Sports (2007). Preliminary education sector performance report. Accra: Ministry of Education. [33] Ministry of Education Science and Sports (2008). Preliminary education sector performance report. Accra: Ministry of Education. [34] Okumu, I. M., Nakajjo, A., & Isoke, D. (2008). Socio-economic determinants of primary school dropout: the logistical model analysis. http://www.http:/mpra.ub.unimuenchen.de/7851/ [35] Rosati, F, C., & Rossi, M. (2007). Impact of School Quality on Child Labour and School Attendance: The Case of CONAFE Compensatory Education Program in Mexico. Understanding Children’s Work (UCW) Working Paper, February 2007, An inter-agency research co-operative project. Geneva: ILO, UNICEF, World Bank. [36] Rose, P., & Al-Samarrai, S. (2001). Household constraints on schooling by gender: Empirical evidence from Ethiopia. Comparative Educational Review, 45, 3-63. doi:10.1086/447644 [37] Smita (2008). Distress seasonal migration and its impact on children’s education. CREATE pathways to access research monograph No. 28. Brighton: University of Sussex. [38] PROBE (1999) Public report on basic education in India. The PROBE Team, Oxford: Oxford University Press. [39] Wikan, G. (n.d.). Non-enrolled, drop-outs and pupils: The state of education for all in Namibia. http://www.pef.uni-lj.si/978-961-6637-06-0/261-269.pdf