In developing countries, child labor often fills household needs and reduces schooling. Which reforms can help reduce child labor and promote schooling?

• A. Universal primary education, cash transfer programs, and social protection.
• B. Increasing school fees and extending school days.
• C. Reducing teacher training and closing rural schools.
• D. Encouraging child labor to fund family income.

Answer: (A)

Addressing economic and access barriers is essential to reducing child labor and promoting schooling. Providing universal primary education ensures every child can attend without facing cost or access hurdles, making schooling the norm rather than the exception. Cash transfer programs give families steady income and, when tied to school attendance, create a clear incentive for keeping children in school instead of sending them to work. Broader social protection reduces vulnerability to poverty and shocks, so households aren’t forced to rely on their children’s earnings during hard times. Together, these reforms expand schooling opportunities while lessening the financial pull of child labor. Policies that raise costs or shrink schooling options, or that promote child labor, would worsen the problem.