The Role of Fathers’ Overseas Migration in Educational Performance of Female Children in Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

The process of out-migration has significantly been associated with the welfare of the households at origin across the world. The process of migration is mainly initiated from Pakistan with a prime objective to elevate the social position as there are only a few opportunities left for the people to work and earn for livings. The overall size of international migrants from Sindh province is a handful (approximately .9 million) and the majority of these migrants moved to the Gulf region but some also moved to the rest of the world particularly in Europe and the US. The impact of migration can be seen on many aspects of households of migrants but for the current research, it is focused only on female children’s education in the case of Khairpur (Mir’s) district in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. The selection of the respondents was made by using purposive sampling technique. The data was collected from 120 households of migrants who at least had one member living abroad and sending remittances regularly. The focus of the current research was on two major aspects; (a) out-migration and inflow of remittances and (b) educational outcomes of the female children studying at primary school level. It is perceived that migration of father and subsequently the inflow of remittances can make a huge difference for the educational outcomes of female children. In some cases, the inflow of remittances leads toward the improvement in the educational performance of the female children.