ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR STREET BEGGING AMONG SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN ILORIN METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
Segun David Oguntade 2
Department of Adult and Primary Education, University of Ilorin, Nigeria 1 & 2
Corresponding Email: yakubkaratu@gmail.com 1
Abstract
Many children live on the streets, robbed of education and vulnerable to many hazards, despite attempts to solve this issue. This paper explored the possible factors influencing street begging among school-age children in the locale. A self-constructed questionnaire was employed to gather data from 100 randomly selected employees in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, Kwara State, guided by three research questions. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to analyse the data. Results showed that major causes of street begging are poverty, parental neglect, substandard housing, homelessness, bad urban family circumstances, family disintegration, and cultural and religious influences. Moreover, street begging was discovered to affect children’s educational performance, hence restricting their academic advancement and prospects for the future. The paper suggested poverty alleviation programmes, a committed government committee to monitor policy implementation, sustainable rehabilitation projects, and enhanced family duties towards this problem. Reducing the number of vulnerable children also depends on discouraging polygamy and large families. The results draw attention to the pressing need of efficient policy implementation and greater social responsibility to shield children from severe reality of street life. Combating these underlying issues will help to create a more lasting solution that guarantees every child has access to school and a brighter future.
Keywords: Street Begging, School-age Children, Poverty, Family Structure.
