Assessing the Academic Impact of Parental Migration on Children Left Behind: A Case Study of Government Schools in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir

Abstract

The large numbers of children worldwide losing one or both parents left to search for work have made migration quite a serious issue. This paper discusses how the parents' migration affects the educational performance, emotional well-being, and social development of children left behind in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The data was collected using structured questionnaires with 162 students under a quantitative research design. Results suggest that the major cause of parents' migration is financial hardships. Thus, remittances enhance the well-being of families; however, this comes at a price that is paid by children in terms of emotional and social health. 62.3% reported an improvement in their academic results as they had more funds; publicly although the majority also stated that there was a disruption of everyday lives and psychological problems; such as lack of confidence in ones self and reduction social contact factors were apparent. The research supported the realization of SDG-4 Quality Education by demonstrating that equity and inclusive access need to be ensured for children with migrant background parents in educational resources. The research contributes to SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) in that it has: outcomes. The study highlights the need for specifically targeted local government and community initiatives that would have a positive influence on the growth of children, thereby increasing the good effects of migration and at the same time decreasing its social and psychological costs. Basically, parental migration may be included as a cause of economic benefits; yet, the complicated influences of such migration on the subsists of children call for inclusive actions which intend not only at their academic performance but also at their emotional and social flexibility.