Parental absence and children's school enrolment: Evidence from a longitudinal study in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Abstract

This analysis draws upon the 2000-2003 data-set of a longitudinal study in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand in order to examine the extent to which parental absence has effects on children's school enrolment. The findings highlight the negative impacts of parental absence on the school enrolment of children left behind (i.e. who did not follow the migrating parents). The importance of 'who is absent' and 'the length of absence' are addressed. The long-term absence of the mother appears to reduce the educational chances of children left behind, whereas the long-term absence of fathers does not. The results suggest that the mother's roles are not easily replaced by other family members. The study also shows the contrasting roles of remittances as a contribution to the education of the children left behind and as a motivation for migration for children who have already left school. © 2006 Taylor & Francis.