Two years ago, Innocent Nshimiyimana dropped out of school to start work.

The 16-year-old says he was withdrawn from school due to poor academic performance.

"I dropped out of school in primary four, my performance was always very poor. I could hardly pass any subject so my parents decided to withdraw me from school to do some constructive work,” he says.

"I started working on the family farm before I went out for casual jobs on a sugarcane plantation,” he adds.Besides digging, Nshimiyimana carries sugarcane from the field to the market.

"I work for sugarcane traders, carrying sugarcanes from the field to the market,” he says.

He earns Rwf500 per day working on the plantation and between Rwf200 and Rwf300 when he carries the produce to the market.

Like many children of his age, Nshimiyimana is a victim of child labour.

Officials say there are thousands of children engaged in child labour in the country and millions worldwide.

Child labour is defined as the employment of children in any work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and that is mentally, physically, socially and morally dangerous and harmful to them.

During celebrations of the International Day against Child Labour on Friday, in Musanze District, officials called for concerted efforts to curb the vice.

The day was celebrated under the theme of "No to child labour - Yes to quality education”.

Officials cited poverty, and ignorance among the causes of child labour.

Latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda’s Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey show that of 3.4 million children aged between 6 and 17, at least 367,810 of them, representing 10 per cent, are engaged in child labour.

The figures show that 40.8per cent of children are engaged in child labour, followed by house-workers, representing 31.9 per cent, 8.1 per cent in construction activities, 2.7 per cent in industry sector, while other activities share 13.7 per cent.

At least 22.5 per cent of the affected children have lost chance to get basic education.

Over 120 million children are engaged in child labour worldwide.

Officials said no child deserves to be employed in commercial activities which are straining in terms of time and energy.

Residents were urged to keep children in school for a better future.

Edmond Tubanambazi the legal adviser to the minister for Public Services and Labour, said there is need for all stakeholders to work together to curb the current trend of child labour in the country.

While poverty is the leading cause of child labour, more campaigns should be carried out to help both employers and parents understand that children deserve support to pursue education and enjoy their other rights.

Felix Muramutsa, from the Winlock International’s project dubbed ‘Reach-T’ that supports disadvantaged children in tea growing areas said there is also need for more awareness on child labour.

She noted that some people do not differentiate between child labour and normal work.

A child below 16 years of age is not allowed to be engaged in any income generating works, he said.

Children between 17 and 18 years are, however, allowed to engage in works that earn them money but are not supposed to spend more than eight hours working. They are not also supposed to be employed to do work that involves harmful activities such as pornography.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw