The Effect of Parental Migration on the Academic Success of Students from Low-Income Families in the Western Province of Sri Lanka.

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.