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VOL. 2, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Parental labour migration and children’s educational outcomes: Evidence from Odisha
Authors
Dr. Manoj Kumar Sial, Dr. Manoja Kumar Panda, Tapu Maharna
Abstract
Parental migration has
emerged as an important livelihood strategy in economically vulnerable regions
of India, with significant implications for the human capital formation of
children left behind. This study examines the impact of parental migration on
children’s educational outcomes in Balasore district of Odisha using primary
data collected from 1,000 migrant households across all Community Development
Blocks. Adopting a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical research design,
the study analyses socio-economic characteristics of migrant households,
migration patterns and duration, caregiving arrangements, and key educational
outcomes such as school enrolment, attendance, dropout, and academic performance.
Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression
techniques are employed to examine associations and determinants of educational
outcomes. The findings indicate that migration is predominantly undertaken by
economically active adults from socially and economically disadvantaged
households and is largely characterized by long-term and inter-state movement,
resulting in prolonged parental absence. Empirical results reveal a significant
association between caregiving arrangements and children’s school enrolment and
attendance. School dropout risks increase with the duration of parental
migration, particularly in cases of long-term and inter-state migration.
Logistic regression results confirm that long-term migration, non-parental caregiving,
low household income, and lower parental education significantly increase the
likelihood of school dropout. Academic performance is also adversely affected,
especially among children from households where both parents have migrated. The
study concludes that while parental migration may improve household income, it
imposes substantial educational costs on children, highlighting the need for
migration-sensitive educational and social protection policies.
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Pages:22-27
How to cite this article:
Dr. Manoj Kumar Sial, Dr. Manoja Kumar Panda, Tapu Maharna "Parental labour migration and children’s educational outcomes: Evidence from Odisha". International Journal of Advanced Education
, Vol 2, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 22-27
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