Impact of Artisanal Gold Mining on the Primary School Education in Robi Magadda Area of West Guji Zone in Oromia State of Ethiopia

Authors

  • Chala Wata Deresa (PhD), Dharmendra Kumar Dube (PhD), Shashi Kant (PhD)

Abstract

Present research was focused to study the impact of artisan gold mining on the miner children’s education in Ropi Magada area of south eastern Ethiopia. The study used descriptive research design, collecting primary data from tools like household, and miner children survey, FGDs, Key Informant Interviews, and field observation. Qualitative and quantitative techniques for data analysis were used, descriptive and inferential statistics were deployed. The finding depicts that the study area on average has a very poor educational status and larger family size (6-9 members/family). Incapability of traditional agriculture to meet the family requirement, and lack of work during agriculture lean period serves as major ‘push’ factors, while ‘good source of cash money’, ‘money available round the year’ were the major pull factors for attracting children towards mining. The factors of disliking were: ‘it’s extremely arduous work’, and ‘inflicts disease, illness and injuries’. Children do mine by their own choice and almost half (47.3%) reported ‘no negative perception for mining’. Mining replaced agriculture as the prime source of income (90.7%), and for 96% income used primarily for survival of families; but extremely less (0.7%) for education of children, and correlation coefficient depicts highly negative correlation among income for mining and investment on education. The age range of children in primary is quite wide- the main working group was from 10-15 years and the largest annual income group is from 10,000 to 20,000 ETB. The consumption of earnings also varies with age- early age groups (5-10 years) consumes much for family while main age group besides family give much weightage to recreation, but education get least consumption (6.7%). The most common pattern of mining is 3 to 5 days in a week, and 3 days in a week absenteeism from school. Linear regression model showed that as daily earnings increase by 1 unit there an increase of 0.378 units in Weekly absenteeism from school. There is a continuous increasing trend in dropout rate in last ten years with very high fluctuation during the disasters- drought and political unrest and ethnic violence. Logit regression model shows that Daily earnings of children, having perception that mining is good for future and the push and pull factors shows a positive correlation with absenteeism from school. Study recommends strong steps for increasing agriculture production, free education for children up to primary standard, flexibility in school timings, and modernization of entire mining process.

Published

2020-11-01

Issue

Section

Articles