The effect of child labor in engaging learning at classroom situation: a case study from a primary school in urban Dhaka

Abstract

This study examined the engaging learning environment at classroom of the child labor in primary school at Dhaka city, a child labor prone area in Bangladesh. This area is possessing a large number of casual laborers who are working besides study as they suffer from hunger, poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, and exclusion. This study mainly aimed to investigate the challenges faced by the working children in terms of learning engagement in existing schooling environment. The study also identified the roles of different stakeholders such as parents, teachers, SMC members, and community people to find the way forward in order to overcome the problem. Qualitative method was applied with purposive sampling technique, using semi-structured interview, FGD and observation checklist. The study considered different studies to gain in-depth knowledge highlighted in the literature review. Besides, this study intended to understand the child laborer’s struggle, challenge, and related way forward regarding their engaging learning at classroom. In addition to that, this paper aimed to identify new dimensions for the stakeholder on mitigating these issues with the coordination of teachers, parents, peers, and the community. Study identified that the lack of school time, lower attendance results to poor performance of the child labor, lack of teacher’s attention, low peer support and lack of parents’ concern on their study leads to lower self-esteem and affected them negatively. This study concluded through addressing wide ranges of measures such as adopting innovative learning methods, teachers training on different teaching techniques, proper classroom facilities, stipends and cocurricular activities; growing higher consciousness of parents; proactiveness of school authorities; proper coordination among the parents, teachers and SMC members and initiatives from the community.