MIGRANT FATHER’S ABSENCE: IMPACTS ON EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING OF LEFT-BEHIND CHILDREN AGED 5-17 IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The impacts of migration on the left-behind children in Pakistan are less explored. This research aims to contribute by separately examining the impacts of both internal and international migration of fathers on the left-behind children. Utilizing the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey from Punjab 2017-2018, we look at the educational and emotional outcomes of the left-behind children in comparison to the children who have their fathers residing with them by using multivariate and bivariate analysis techniques. Our results show that internal migration has the most prominent impact on the children left behind, resulting in lesser emotional well-being and lower educational outcomes compared to their peers who have their fathers at home. With regards to international migration, the bivariate and multivariate analysis both show that left-behind children have better educational attainment outcomes than those children who have their fathers living at home with them. However, emotional well-being does not show significant associations with international migration in our study.