The Simultaneous Decision-Making Process Regarding Schooling and Child Labour in Urban Households of the Zhob and Sherani Districts in Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

This research examines the simultaneous decision-making processes regarding education and child labour within urban households in the districts of Zhob and Sherani in Baluchistan. A questionnaire was employed to collect primary data to achieve the study's objectives. The analysis was conducted using the Sequential Probit Model. The specific aims of this study include investigating the supply-side factors influencing child labour in urban settings, particularly the relationship between parental decisions (to enrol their children in "school only," "a combination of school and work," "work only," or "neither school nor work") and four categories of socio-economic variables: child characteristics (including birth order, gender, age, and education of the child), head of household characteristics (such as gender, age, education, employment status, and income of the head of the household), parental characteristics (including the education, income, and employment status of both the father and mother), and household characteristics (comprising asset ownership, per capita household expenditure, family size, and the composition of the household, specifically the number of children under five years and those aged five to fifteen). The urban child population stands at 11.7 million, representing 28 % of the total child population, with urban child labour accounting for one-eighth of rural child labour. The findings indicate that child labour in these two districts is primarily driven by low income levels and poverty. Various factors significantly influence households' decisions regarding the allocation of children's time. A key finding of the study indicates that parents tend to favour their sons' education, highlighting the presence of gender bias within the educational system. If the effect of diminishing resources per child prevails, younger siblings (those of higher birth order) are likely to receive less educational support compared to their older siblings. Consequently, older children are more inclined to engage in work-only or school-only activities, while younger children are more often involved in school-only or no school-related activities. Children from female-headed households tend to combine both schooling and work. The education and employment status of the household head and parents adversely affect child labour, whereas they positively influence child education. Additionally, the size of the household shows a positive correlation with labour involvement and a negative correlation with educational attainment for children. The presence of literate adults in the home correlates positively with school-only activities and negatively with work-only and no school-no-work activities. However, the current study indicates that a male head of household has a favourable impact on child education. Women's participation in economic activities is limited due to various socio-cultural factors, resulting in lower income levels for females, which in turn diminishes the likelihood of children from female-headed households receiving adequate educational opportunities.