Influence of Street Hawking and Physical Abuse
Chapter One
Aims and Objectives of the Study
This study aims to examine the influence of street hawking and physical abuse on the academic performance of secondary school students in Makurdi. The specific objectives are:
- To investigate the influence of street hawking on students’ academic performance in Makurdi.
- To explore the influence of physical abuse on students’ educational outcomes in Makurdi.
- To assess the joint influence of street hawking and physical abuse on the academic performance of secondary school students in Makurdi LGA of Benue State.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEWED OF RELATED LITERATURE
Causes of Street Hawking
A number of factors have propelled children into hawking in various streets. It is not as if the children are not happy to join their mates in schools to enjoy the breeze of good Western Education but something caused such condition to take place, amongst them are:
- Poverty: According to Hornby Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (2000), poverty is the state of being poor. Poverty is a condition where people’s basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met. Studies indicate that most children who hawk are motivated by poverty. The search for money to make ends meet in a depressed economy is obviously one of the major reasons for parent and guardians sending their children or wards to hawk. Either that the parents do not earn enough money or that they have a lot of children to take care of, which results in leading them to the street to supplement family income.
- Poor family planning: Some families do not adopt and practice family planning; they give birth to more that the number they can train because they see children as a free gift of God. There are men that know how to easily impregnate their wives but find it difficult to train their children. The children brought into the world by their parents face difficulties as a result of this. It is not only the children that face hardship but also the parents that gave birth to them. The parents begin to think on how to get support to train the children and end up sending the children to the streets to make money through hawking of goods on streets.
- Child trafficking: Child trafficking is one of the principal causes of child hawking. Trafficking is defined as the recruitment, transfer, harboring, or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation. This is in line with the definition of street hawking by Child trafficking: Child trafficking is one of the principal causes of child hawking. Trafficking is defined as the recruitment, transfer, harboring, or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation. This is in line with the definition of street hawking by The UN convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (2000);
“the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, of abuse of power, giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation” “exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs”
In some countries, women in the cities visit rural areas and meet mothers who they think can easily agree for them to take their daughters or sons to the city where they stay. The poor parents usually think that the persons they handed over their children will take care of them properly without knowing that they have subjected their children to the modern day slavery known as child trafficking. When the children get to the cities, they would be surprised to see that they were trafficked and hence do not know how to make their ways back to their locations (their parents homes). The “business women” usually hand these children to other people who subject them to hawking on the streets of the cities. Some of these children were usually raped and exploited while hawking on the streets.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine influence of street hawking and physical abuse. Selected secondary schools in Makurdi, Benue state form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain influence of street hawking and physical abuse. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing influence of street hawking and physical abuse.
Summary
This study was on influence of street hawking and physical abuse. Three objectives were raised which included: To investigate the influence of street hawking on students’ academic performance in Makurdi, to explore the influence of physical abuse on students’ educational outcomes in Makurdi and to assess the joint influence of street hawking and physical abuse on academic performance of secondary school students in Makurdi LGA of Benue State. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected secondary schools in Makurdi LGA of Benue State. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
the study calls for a holistic approach to tackle the challenges associated with street hawking and physical abuse. This includes advocating for policy reforms that protect the rights of informal workers, developing targeted interventions to address the unique needs of child street hawkers, and fostering community-based initiatives that empower vulnerable populations. By addressing the multifaceted dimensions of the issue, society can work towards creating an environment where street hawking becomes a dignified and safe means of livelihood, free from the specter of physical abuse. Ultimately, the study serves as a catalyst for positive change, encouraging a more inclusive and just society for those engaged in street hawking.
Recommendation
Advocate for and implement robust legal frameworks that explicitly protect the rights of street hawkers, with a particular focus on children. Regulations should address issues such as working hours, conditions, and fair remuneration, providing a foundation for safeguarding their well-being.
Develop targeted support programs specifically designed for child street hawkers. These programs should encompass educational initiatives, access to healthcare services, and psychosocial support to address the unique vulnerabilities faced by this demographic.
Facilitate community-based initiatives that empower street hawkers, fostering a sense of community and solidarity. Engage in awareness campaigns to inform street hawkers about their rights, available support services, and avenues for reporting instances of abuse.
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