Abstract:
This research investigates the impact of parental migration on the academic
performance of children from low-income families in Sri Lanka. Although Sri
Lanka has improved its overall development indicators, a significant percentage
of its population continues to live in conditions characterized by poverty and its
associated harmful effects. One such trend among Sri Lanka's low-income
communities, particularly in the Western Province, is the increasing number of
parents who migrate abroad in search of improved economic opportunities.
Such labor migration, often considered a means of improving family income,
typically results in one or both parents leaving their children to be cared for by
extended family members or guardians. Despite the financial remittances sent
home, the physical absence of parents may have a profound impact on the
emotional well-being, supervision, and educational support of the children left
behind. The research aims to investigate how such family arrangements, a
characteristic of low-income families, affect the academic achievement of the
remaining children. This phenomenon presents both unique challenges and
opportunities for the education of these children. This study explores the impact
of parental migration on the education of children in the Western Province of Sri
Lanka. It adopted a quantitative approach based on data analysis and included
a survey quantifying the effects of one or both parents' absence due to migration
on children's education. Grounded in a quantitative survey of 384 students, the
study reveals that economic instability, psychological challenges, and parental
non-participation have a significant impact on performance. The findings
suggest that effective interventions require improved economic support, mental
health assistance, and enhanced communication between children and their
migrant parents.
