11 percent of children are forced to work 8-11 hours a week!

The impact of the economic crisis on children has been laid bare once again. According to a study supported by TÜBİTAK, 11 percent of children are forced to work 8-11 hours a week due to the poor state of the economy. The research, conducted by the Istanbul Bilgi University Child Studies Unit, has once again highlighted the inequality of opportunity in education. 

According to the research, 54 percent of working children work to earn pocket money, 47 percent to support their families, and 39 percent to learn a trade. The average weekly income of these children remains below 2 thousand Turkish Liras.

Some of the data included in the research are as follows: 

"- While 47 percent of the children interviewed stated that they feel happy, this rate is 33 percent among children from families with the lowest socioeconomic status, and 64 percent among children from families with high socioeconomic status.

- Three-quarters of the children are anxious about the state of the economy or the possibility of something bad happening to one of their family members.

- 112 of the children participating in the research said they had to take a break from their education. Among the main reasons for this situation are academic failure at 54 percent, not wanting to go to school at 51 percent, and the necessity to work at 28 percent.

- Children's household workloads also vary depending on gender and socioeconomic status. 89 percent of girls make their own beds, 79 percent set and clear the table, 63 percent prepare their own breakfast, and 50 percent do household cleaning. These rates are much lower for boys.

- While 53 percent of children see natural disasters as the most significant threat, unemployment ranks second at 49 percent, and poverty ranks third at 45 percent."