STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF CHILDREN PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOLING AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN THE TAMALE METROPOLIS

This study examines the determinants of child labour and its effect on child schooling in the Tamale Metropolis. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 240 respondents for interview. Using binary logistic models, the study revealed that the likelihood that a child will be engaged in economic activity (child labour) is relatively high when coming from an Islamic home in the Tamale Metropolis. This incidence can be attributed to the dominance of Muslim over Christian population in the study area. Parents having an occupation are less likely to engage their children into child labour compared to parents with no occupation, as those with occupation have the necessary resources to take care of the needs of their children. In addition, children having a junior high school qualification are also less likely to be engaged in child labour compared to their counterparts with no formal education. Furthermore, evidence from the analysis revealed that females are more likely to attend school compared to males and the probability that a child will not be enroll into school is relatively high when coming from an Islamic home than those from Christian homes. Also, parents with occupations are less likely to enroll their children into school in the Tamale Metropolis. Finally, the study indicates no significant effect of child labour on child schooling.