Prevalence and Patterns of Child Labor among Secondary School Students

Child labor remains a serious social issue that affects the educational development of school-going children, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities. This study investigated the prevalence and factors influencing child labor among secondary school students and examined its effect on their academic performance. A quantitative cross-sectional correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised secondary school students (Grades 9 and 10) from public and private schools in Rawalakot, District Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. A sample of 100 students was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire based on a Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and mean scores, were used to analyze the factors influencing child labor and its academic impact. Pearson product–moment correlation was applied to examine the relationship between child labor and academic performance. The findings revealed that child labor is prevalent among secondary school students, even among those attending school regularly. Poverty, low family income, high educational expenses, parental encouragement, and social acceptance were identified as major factors contributing to child labor. The results further showed that child labor negatively affects students’ academic performance by causing fatigue, lack of concentration, insufficient study time, absenteeism, and lower academic achievement. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a significant negative relationship between child labor and academic performance, confirming that increased involvement in labor leads to poorer educational outcomes. The study concludes that child labor is largely driven by economic necessity rather than lack of interest in education. It recommends financial assistance, reduction of educational costs, parental awareness, and strengthened institutional support to reduce child labor and improve academic performance.