Relationship between remittances and rural primary education: a case study on a group of remittance beneficiaries

Abstract

Today nearly two million Sri Lankans are employed abroad generating US Dollars 7 million annually, accounting for 8 percent of Gross Domestic Product. Most of the studies pertaining to Sri Lanka are confined to the benefits of migration on rural communities and members left behind by increasing household income. However, there is little focus on the impact of remittance on educational productivity. In this context, this study was conducted with the main objective of investigating the impact of remittance on primary education in rural community. The data collection was conducted using a pre-structured questionnaire in Galewela Divisional Secretarial with a sample of 45 households receiving remittances through a selected private bank and another 45 households who are non- recipients of remittances with children obtaining primary education. The findings of the study revealed that migrant households spend a higher proportion of remittances on primary education than non-migrant households. It was found that according to the parental perception of migrant families, the productivity of rural primary education has increased after the investment of remittances. But according to the statistical comparison using two sample t- test focused on the level of primary education among migrant and non-migrant families, it is revealed that remittances have no significant impact on the productivity of rural primary education. Through the regression analysis conducted to find the factors affecting rural primary education, it was concluded that parental absence and time allocation of mother for children’s education play an important role than the share of remittances allocated for education.