1.
CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EXAMINATION
COUNCIL (CSEC)
2015
SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT: SOCIAL STUDIES
CHILD LABOUR
Candidate Name: Shemar Cunningham
School: Old Harbour High School
Teacher: Miss.Deenah
Center#: 100088
Candidate#:100088
Territory: Jamaica

2.
1
Acknowledgement
As the researcher, I must express my deepest gratitude to Mr. R.J. Henry, author of many books
including is very own autobiography, for his invaluable encouragement and assistance I received
complete this research.
I would also like to extend a warm thanks to both my aunt and uncle for their tremendous
support with assisting with the editing of the research, and my mom who helped with the
construction of the introduction. Finally, I owe much to my grandmother who would constantly
remind me of the SBA by asking the same piercing question,’’Shemar, did you do any work on
the SBA today?’’

3.
2
Introduction
Children are the greatest gift to humanity and childhood is important and an impressionable stage
of human development as it holds the potential to the future development of any society.
Children, who are brought up in an environment conductive to their intellectual, physical and
social health, grow up to be responsible and productive members of society.
According to an article online (Resources for speakers on global issues) child labour is defined
as work performed by a child that is likely to interfere with his or her right to an education. The
community of Kennedy Lane is located in a rural area, hence making child labour prevalent due
to the growing gaps between the rich and the poor in and around the community, leaving a
number of children out of school or not attending as often, selling in the streets, operating hand
carts and the list goes on.? Therefore the observer chose to conduct the research in this
community. The main purpose of the research is to address the major issue affecting the
community, state the advantages, disadvantages and the possible solutions of how to resolve this
issue.

4.
3
Content
Acknowledgement …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
Statement of problem…………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Reasons for selecting area of research ………………………………………………………………….. 5
Method of investigation ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Data collection instrument ……………………………………………………………………………………. 7-8
Procedures for data collection ……………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Presentation of data ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 10-14
Analysis and Representation of data ……………………………………………………………………. 15
Statement of findings …………………………………………………………………………………………… 16
Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18

5.
4
Statement of the Problem
What are the views of residents in the Kennedy Lane community on the issue of child labor?
Research questions
1. Do you think that children who work at such early age are despised?
2. Do you think the Child Development Agency (CDA) is doing enough to ensure less child
labour in the community?
3. In what way does child labour impacts the child who goes to school?

6.
5
Reasons for Selecting the Area of Research
Child labour possesses a major issue, one that is rather disturbing. Child labor is defined as
depriving a child’s childhood by having the child being engaged in working activities for
example: selling goods. This is harmful to their physical and mental development. This is an
issue that is very common in the community.

7.
6
Method of Investigation
The method of investigation used to collect data on the issue of child labor by using printed
questionnaires.
The usage of questionnaires brought a series of advantages to the research. They are:
 Responses are private so the residents or participants names are not required.
 The data is easily analyzed, calculated and interpreted.
 Data can be collected and issued to residents at a given time.
The questionnaire comprised of twelve questions with four sets of three speaking to knowing if
the participants are aware of the problem, the causes of the problem, the impact of the problem
and possible solutions respectively.

8.
7
Kennedy Lane
Palmers Cross P.A
Clarendon
February 2, 2015
Dear Resident,
This is a research being carried out in the community of Kennedy Lane to determine the views of
residence on child labour, which is one of the many major social issue affecting different
communities across Jamaica. This research is being conducted as an assignment and a
requirementfor CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Examination Counsel) social studies.
You are required to answer the following questions honestly and truthfully. Since you do not
have to write your names anywhere, no one will ever know who answered that particular
question. The paper consists of mostly Yes or No (to be answered by placing a tick inside the
box provided), multiple choice and short answer questions, and specific instructions are given.
Thank you
Yours sincerely,
S. Cunningham

9.
8
Data Collection Instrument
Questionnaire
1. Gender?
Male Female
2. How long have you been a resident?
Over ten (10) years
6-5 years
Under one year
3. What thought comes to mind when you see a child working in the streets?
Their parents are negligent
Poor family
They have no future ahead of them
4. What is your reaction to a child working?
Sympathetic Insensitive Concerned
5. What kind of jobs are children employed to do?
Selling in streets Wiping wind screens at stop light Operating hand carts.

10.
9
6. Do you think the Child Development Agency (C.D.A) is doing enough to ensure less child
labor in the community?
Agree Disagree
7. Do you think that children who work at such early age are despised?
Agree Disagree
8. In what way does child labor impact the child who goes to school?
Low grades vulgar behavior Lack of Concentration
9. Do you think employment affects the academic performance of the child?
Yes No
10. How would child labor affect a child’s learning?
_______________________________________________________________
11. Do you know of a child who participates in child labor?
______________________________________________________________
(A)If yes, have you helped that child in any way possible?
___________________________________________________________
12. A possible solution to the issue of child labor is relevant authorities carrying out their duties
with more seriousness.
Agree Disagree

11.
10
Procedures for Data Collection
The data was collected in the Kennedy Lane Community. However, before collection, I had to
introduce myself, explain the essentiality of the questionnaire and what it was about. A total of
forty (40) questionnaires which consists of twelve (12) questions each were handed out.
I randomly selected thirty eight (38) residents in and around the community and gave them each
a questionnaire. Within Twenty four (24) hours they were completed, tallied and recorded and I
began my presentation, analysis and interpretation of the data.

12.
11
disagree
Agree
0
5
10
15
20
25
numberofRespondents
disagree
Agree
Presentation of Data
Figure 1: Question #7
Do you think that children who work at such early age are despised?

13.
12
Yes
48%
No
52%
Do you Think Child Labour Affects the Academic
Performance of the Child
Figure 2: Question #9
Do you think employment affect the academic performance affect the child?

14.
13
Figure 3: Question 8
In what way does child labour affect the person who goes to school?
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Percentage Number of Respondents
Effectofchildlabourontheschoolchild
Lack of Concentration
Vulgar Behaviour
Low Grades

15.
14
Figure4: Question# 3
What thought comes to mind when you see a child working in the streets?
Parents are Negligent PoorFamily
Background
Their future is Blighted
20 12 6

16.
15
Analysis and Interpretation of Data
According to Figure 1, illustrating the responses to question 7, 24 or sixty percent (60%) of the
respondents are in agreement saying yes children who work early are despised. The other 40%
said no they are not despised.
Figure 2displays a pie chart of the responses to question #9:“Do you think employment affect
the academic performance of the child?” where fifty two percent (52%) of the participants
selected Yes and forty eight present (48%) selected No.
Figure 3 in a Column chart presents the responses to question #8in what way does child labour
affect the child who goes to school? Ten(10)of the respondents indicated that it affects the
child’s concentration, five (5) said it results in the child exhibiting vulgar behaviorwhile the
majority, all of twenty three (23) selected low grades as an effect.
Figure 4 shows the kind of jobs children are employed to. Selling in the streets outweighs
washing vehicles and operating hand carts. However, in response to question #3 what thought
comes to mind when you see a child working? The statistical data is as follows: ten (20)
residences selected that the parents are negligent, eight (12) selected poor background and seven
(6) selected that there future is blighted.

17.
16
Statement of findings
 According to question majority of the participant disagree to the fact that children are
despisedif they are participating in child labour because their parent or Gordian is not
able to fund them through school, to pay bills, and to provide food as a result they are
forced to work and fund themselves through primary education.
 Child labour affects the child academic performance because when they indulged in
these activities as a result it’s hard for a child to maintain ones performance in school.
 A lack of concentration (not being able to focus during class), unsatisfactory grades
(not being able to pass examinations) and outrageous vulgar behavior are a few of the
many reasons why child labour affects students who go to school.

18.
17
Recommendations
I am aware of the laws and policies that are in place in an effort to resolve the issue of child
labour but I recommend these laws and policies are enforced and consistent with the principle of
the best interests of the child. The implementation strategy for such is hosting workshops and
forums at regular intervals to educate citizens of these laws and policies as well as making them
aware of sanctions applied if laws are adhered to or broken. Television advertisements, posters
etc. are ways to remind people about these laws.
In the event that the child indulges in child labour to assist in financing himself, I recommend
that the government ministries (such as those dealing with labour, child protection, and mining),
businesses, nongovernmental organization, increase social protection schemes to support these
children as well as offer monetarily assistance to the poorest households where children are
forced to be employed. A sensible implementation strategy is proper monitoring or assessment of
the individuals who visit social security offices and daily routine operations of where suspected
child labour is done and get children in protected environment where they can be taken care of
without thinking about working . Efforts to widen access to quality education are also a strategy
that can be used.

19.
18
Bibliography
Books:
RampersadRamsawak et al: Modules in Sccial Studies published, 2005 Trinidad
Websites:
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/109074/chapters/How-Poverty-Affects-Behavior-and-
Academic-Performance.aspx
Date: 1/03/2015
http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/briefingpapers/childlabour/
Date: 23/02/2015
http://laborrightsblog.typepad.com/international_labor_right/2011/09/developmental-effects-of-
child-labor.html
Date: 12/02/2015