Seasonal child labour in Nepal’s Brick Kilns: A study of its educational impact and parents’ attitudes towards it

ABSTRACT

This study examines how child labour carried out in Nepal’s brick kilns impacts classroom performance and achievement, while also exploring parents’ perspectives towards it. To this end, a field study within select brick kilns was conducted among child labourers as well as adults whose offspring had previously worked as child labourers. Information was collected through semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The findings of this study suggest that the majority of child labourers spend a part of their earnings on getting themselves or their siblings educated, which helps to the continuity of education. However, child labourer’s seasonal migration to brick kilns for employment impacts their ability to attend school, which leads to a deterioration of their classroom performance and final grades, while also producing higher drop-out rates. The majority of adult participants in this study held neutral views on both child labour and education. They did not deny the importance of education, yet also easily accepted child labour, considering it to be a necessity rather than a choice.

KEYWORDS:

• Brick kilns
• child labour
• child education
• drop-out
• school enrolment
• parents
• ; Nepal

Disclosure statement

This study is based on the data collected during my field study for Master thesis entitled of ‘Educational Status of Child Labourers in the Brick Kilns of Jhaukhel VDC, Bhaktapur District’ within department of Development Studies at Kathmandu University.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Binita Sharma

Binita Sharma M.A., has completed  Master of 'Health and Society in South Asia' at Heidelberg University, Germany and Master of 'Development Studies' at Kathmandu University, Nepal.

Megh R. Dangal

Megh R. Dangal PhD, is an associate professor and coordinator of undergraduate program, 'Community Development' at school of Arts, Kathmandu university. He has been actively working in the field of education for many years.