Schooling and Working, Working and Schooling: A Descriptive Study of the Challenges

Some studies on the effects of employment on students’ academics in the literature but little is known about the effects of schooling on workers who decide to school alongside their work schedule. This study therefore seeks to find out the challenges facing students who work and workers who study in Ghana. The results from 90 students of the Nyankpala campus of University for Development Studies in the Northern region of Ghana conveniently sampled show that majority of students who work, work for 1-15 hours a week while majority of workers who school, work for 16-35 hours a week. Working to support oneself on campus, gaining practical knowledge and supplementing family income topped the list of factors facilitating students’ decision to work. On the other hand, workers who school have knowledge acquisition, degree acquisition, both better job and improve social status as the topmost reasons for schooling. Despite the positive effect of employment on students who work, they have to battle with class schedule, time for private studies and assignment etc. and workers who school also face the challenge of having little time to work and reduction in their leisure time.