KNUT-ILO/IPEC NATIONAL PROJECT ON ELIMINATION OF CHILD LABOUR

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The KNUT-ILO/IPEC Project on Elimination of Child Labour was started in September 1999.  The project, which is a partnership between KNUT and ILO/IPEC aims to eradicate child labour in Kenya by using the already established KNUT organizational structure to raise awareness amongst the teachers, education officials, parents and the general public on problems associated with child labour, and to build their capacity to fight the problem.

Besides mobilizing the target groups to take appropriate measures to eradicate child labour in Kenya, the project will also seek to influence the government, through the Ministries in charge of Education, to implement a policy of free and compulsory basic education.

The project was piloted in five (5) districts namely; Busia, Koibatek, Nyambene, Siaya and Taita Taveta.  Thereafter, the project would be expanded to cover the whole nation.  To realize the above objectives, KNUT has had to liaise and work closely with the relevant stakeholders and partners, including the Kenya Institute of Education, Ministry in-charge of Education, Ministry of Labour, Central Organization of Trade Unions and the National Association of Parents among others.

Kenya is one of the ten (10) countries in the world, where the ILO is implementing this project.  Other countries in Africa where the project is being implemented include; Tanzania and Egypt. Elsewhere in the world, the project is being implemented in the following countries; Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Nepal, Philipines, Peru and Uruguay.

The KNUT-ILO/IPEC Project aims to ensure that all Kenyan children of school-going age are in school.  Out of the 3.5 million children who are out of school, at least 1.9 million have been reported to be in child labour situation.  This is the magnitude of the problem that KNUT-ILO/IPEC Project aims to surmount.

It is however hoped that with the help of partners and relevant stakeholders, KNUT will do its best to ensure that the project is a success.  Already, available reports indicate that the KNUT project is the best within the African Region.

PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

(a)    Sensitization of stakeholders, KNUT leaders, Teachers, Parents and the local community leaders;
(b)    Capacity building in the pilot schools within the target districts in support of the project – i.e. provision of educational materials and initiation of income generating projects/activities.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION REPORT ON THE KNUT/ILO PROJECT

Introduction:

From May to June 2002, the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) carried out an internal summative evaluation of the IPEC funded KNUT action project to combat and eliminate child labour in Kenya through education and training.

Terms of Reference:

This evaluation exercise was aimed at assessing the quantitative and qualitative accomplishments of the project.  Specifically, the objectives of this evaluation were:
1.    To determine the extent to which the project was implemented according to the time schedule.

2.    To assess the accomplishments of the project from May 2000 to May 2002 in achieving its stated and implicit objectives.

3.    To determine project implementers’ views about the project and their perceptions of needs and problems in the implementation of the project.

4.    To determine the extent to which the project activities or benefits are likely to be sustainable without further assistance.

5.    To make recommendations with a view to improving the performance of the project.

Evaluation Design and Methodology:

(i)    Evaluation Design

Survey and naturalistic designs were used in this evaluation study. The data on inputs, process and outputs were obtained through a questionnaire and analysis of records and interviews with project implementers.  The effects of the project were assessed with the use of interviews with key individuals involved in project activities to obtain their views and reflections on the activities and influences of the projects in their particular sectors of activity.

(ii)    Sample and Sampling Procedures

Purposive sampling was used in the selection of respondents.  The procedures followed were:

    All the Branch Executive Secretaries in project districts and headteachers of the project schools were included in the study;
    Five teachers and five child labour committee members were purposively selected;
    The Project Coordinator was included in the sample.

(iii)    Instruments

Two kinds of instruments were administered to the different types of respondents.  These were:
    Questionnaires
-    Questionnaire for headteachers and teachers of project schools
-    Questionnaire for the Project Coordinator

    Interview Guides
Interviews were held with Branch Executive Secretaries, child labour committee members and teachers.

    Discussions were held with KNUT Branch Executive Secretaries of project districts.

    Data collections Procedures

Data was collected by members of the evaluation team during visits to project schools.

    Data analysis

Data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages and qualitatively.

Findings

(i)    The project document was formulated by IPEC and KNUT headquarters officials with no input from branch officials.  Below are some omissions from the project documents.

    No provision was made in the budget for awareness raising seminars for teachers and parents and monitoring and evaluation activities by branch officials in target districts.  Consequently, branch officials used union funds or their own money for such activities.
    Inadequate provision was made in the project document for funding of a systematic needs assessment at the beginning and summative evaluation at the end of the project.

    Project documents did not indicate the number of children to be withdrawn from child labour.

(ii)    There is generally more interest now than in the past concerning child labour related matters.

(iii)    The Kenya National Union of Teachers has made efforts to institutionalize and mainstream child labour issues into its work.  A measure of KNUT’s staff commitment to the project is the establishment of project activities in non-project (outreach schools) and the personal involvement of two Branch Executive Secretaries in withdrawing some children from child labour and giving them financial and material support from personal resources.  KNUT used different approaches in creating awareness of actors on the dangers of child labour such as seminars and chief’s barazas.

(iv)    One important activity carried out by KNUT was sensitization of policy makers and community leaders on the need to combat and eventually eradicate child labour.  At the national level, the KNUT’s Chief officials, including the Chairman and Secretary General urged the government to make basic education free and compulsory.

(v)    All Branch Executive Secretaries and headteachers in the sample testified to the active role played by local child labour committees, teachers and local leaders in combating child labour.

(vi)    All project schools established income-generating projects.  However, there was no evidence to show that such projects were established in Non-formal centers.

(vii)    The evaluation team found that the achievements of income generating projects were limited comparatively speaking in all the branches except at Noiwet Primary School in Koibatek District which seems to have a somewhat more clearly defined and sustainable strategy for generating income than the five other projects schools.

8.    It was observed that many of the children supported by the project were either at risk of dropping out or had already dropped out of school.  If parents know that their children who drop out of school will be supported they will be tempted to encourage them to do so.  For this reason, the focus should be on withdrawing children from child labour.

9.    Very few awareness – raising seminars and meetings were conducted at community level, as the funds were not available at the district level for this purpose.

10.    The main emphasis in the activities of the KNUT projects seems to have been prevention of children who were at risk of dropping out of school from doing so, rather than withdrawal of children from child labour.  This was as a result of limited funds set aside per child.

11.    Child Labour committees were established and some of them were doing a commendable job.  The ones not doing quite well mentioned that they had no logical support.

12.    Many children from poor families had been provided with uniforms and textbooks in child labour prone areas.

Conclusions:

1.    The method for project formulation was a top-down approach with no involvement of branch officials.  The result has been that their needs have been largely ignored.

2.    It was noted that progress has been made in increasing awareness about child labour issues, but it was also noted that there has been no systematic effort at awareness creation for all teachers and educators in project districts.

3.    Branch officials of KNUT have made commendable contributions to the implementation of IPEC project activities.  In particular, some schools not included in the project document were identified by branch officials and given some support.

4.    Monitoring and evaluation of project activities by branch officials was not included in the budget.  Nevertheless, inspite of lack of funds from IPEC for travel and other project activities at district level, some KNUT officials were committed enough to use union funds.

Recommendations:

1.    Given that KNUT is making commendable efforts to combat and eliminate child labour, the evaluation team recommends that ILO/IPEC continue funding the KNUT project.  However, the evaluation team strongly recommends the funding of monitoring and other project activities for branch officials.

2.    Representatives of branch executive secretaries should be involved in the development of the project document.

3.    To facilitate effective implementation of the project at district level, child labour coordinators should be appointed in each district.

4.    Project documents should be complete and cohesive showing clear linkages between long-term objectives, immediate objectives, outputs, activities, monitoring and evaluation work plan and budget.

5.    The budget should provide funds for travel and coordination of project activities by branch officials.

6.    There is need for information exchange among different IPEC funded projects.

7.    In view of the fact that most school-based income generating projects made loses, systematic needs assessment should be carried out before establishing such projects.

8.    To ensure sustainability of project activities, KNUT and schools should institutionalize successful project activities in their regular activities.

9.    Micro-credit finance projects should be established by schools to stimulate and support the establishment of income-generating projects by disadvantaged parents.  This will enable them to pay school levies for their children.

10.    The strategy of implementing the project from Nairobi was found limiting.  It is therefore recommended KNUT branches be empowered to find out the types of child labour that exist at district level and come up with appropriate strategies for fighting child labour at that level.

11.    The project should expand its activities to other districts where there is widespread child labour, e.g. in such sectors as sand harvesting, hawking, petty trade, wood carving, tea, coffee and rice farming.

12.    A survey of the status of child labour in various sectors should be carried out by KNUT to determine the magnitude of the problem.


BY:    DR. ALEXANDER N. KARIAVU
          KNUT HEAD OFFICE