A Brighter Tomorrow: Equitable Education to Break the Chains of Child Labor
Over time, child labor transitioned from agricultural and small handicraft settings to the industrial sector during the era of the Industrial Revolution. In urban areas, children became valuable labor assets due to their low wages, lower likelihood of participating in strikes, and susceptibility to manipulation. Factors such as socioeconomic inequalities and limited educational access are key contributors to the persistence of child labor.
In the world’s poorest countries, we encounter children engaged in the workforce. For instance, in South America, Brazil (2,065) ranks the highest in terms of child employment. While Jordan ranks the highest in terms of working hours (53.2)
Ensuring access to high-quality education and continuous learning opportunities is essential for enabling individuals to lead fulfilling and productive lives and for achieving sustainable development. Despite notable advancements in school enrollment, millions of children still face exclusion from education, particularly in regions where educational systems struggle to keep up with the challenges posed by rapid population growth.
Lack of educational opportunities often forces children into the workforce perpetuating a cycle of poverty and limiting their potential. Quality education not only equips children with knowledge and skills but also fosters critical thinking and empowerment, enabling them to make informed choices about their lives.
For instance, the deteriorating economic conditions in the Jordan Kingdom have forced thousands of children into hazardous work including dangerous machinery, heavy loads, long hours, and unhealthy living conditions. The below graph shows the long working hours of Jordan children’s employment, where the education levels are minimal.
The graphs show, the inverse relation between children employment rates and education levels. The higher the education levels, the less the children employment rates are across the countries.
Efforts to improve and expand access to education ought to be combined with programs to end child labor. This means addressing issues like poverty, gender inequality, and inadequate infrastructure that impede access to education. Prioritizing quality education allows nations to break the link between inadequate education and child labor, laying the foundation for long-term development and the well-being of future generations.
