ABSTRACT
Education is viewed as important for social as well as economic reasons.Children are involved in a variety of occupations, with agriculture the most prevalent. Research in Peru has consistently found that children’s work is, in one way or another, geared to family needs. In general, children who work with their families have comparatively more protection than if they were working for an outside employer. The number of children officially classified as working is relatively small. Work is not a major activity for children, especially young children, in Peru. Working children face a crucial conflict. Many are forced to work in order to study, but this fact also makes it difficult to perform well at school. The ‘benefits’ from the work of children are often too costly, as children are well aware. In this sense, they typically know more than the experts. As it works, the school system expels working children.
