Schools’ Feeding Programs and the Trade-off between Child Labor and Schooling: Evidence from BRIGHT Survey

Abstract

The focus in this paper is on the role of educational programs (mainly feeding programs) on the eradication of child labor and the co-choice parents make between child labor and schooling. We use data from Burkinabe Response to Improve Girl’s Chances to Succeed 2007-2008 or BRIGHT program which involves the implementation of different measures for education (mobilization campaigns, feeding programs, and so on) in 132 rural villages in Burkina Faso. Child labor is defined as hours in paid or unpaid activities and participation in labor, while schooling is defined as attendance and enrollment. We use simultaneous probability model and Tobit two stages methods to show the trade-off parents make between child labor and schooling. The results suggest that schooling is the reverse of child labor, and schools’ feedings programs in rural villages favor not only participation at school, but schools’ feeding programs could be good policies in addressing child labor.