Getaye Gizaw* and Chala
Gelana

ABSTRACT

This research aimed to examine the determinants of child labor and its impact on children's schooling in Chiro Woreda, Oromia, Ethiopia. The objectives were to identify the working conditions of child laborers, assess the factors influencing children's decisions to engage in work, attend school, or combine both, and evaluate the effects of child labor on children's education. The study involved 220 child laborer respondents, and data were collected through a combination of quantitative surveys and qualitative focus group discussions. The findings revealed that the majority of child workers in the study hailed from disadvantaged backgrounds, including impoverished families, orphans, and migrants from other regions such as South and Amhara. Consequently, most of the child laborers were either illiterate or had dropped out of school. As a result, the study suggests the implementation of policy measures aimed at transitioning child workers from labor to education. It emphasizes the need to enhance public schools, making them more appealing and equipped to attract both children and their parents. Keywords: Child labor, Determinants, Education, Impact, Labor.