Migration, Education and Development in South Asia: A Case Study of Merged Districts and Afghan Refugees

Abstract

The paper tries to develop links between migration and education in the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and 1.6mn Afghan refugees in Pakistan in the context of remittances sent by immigrants abroad. To attain SDGs, numerous programmes were initiated to motivate targeted people in the merged districts and Afghan Refugee Villages (RVs) by expanding primary and vocational education. Vocational education, however, developed more interest in migrants in the merged districts and Afghan RVs. 

Refugees send their children abroad both by legal and illegal means to acquire education and earn money (UK Embassy, Immigration Unit, 2013). No mechanism exists at the State level to utilize remittances and support education and its delivery. The empirical data shows mixed responses regarding migration in merged districts and Afghan refugees, somewhere leading to new ideologies of ‘progress’ and mobility or decreasing the value of education, especially when migration takes place towards Gulf States. Afghans have invested around PKR. 18bn in Pakistan, while PKR. 255m are shared as remittances. The highest remittances are shared by Afghanistan i.e. 26.4%. It is followed by Iran (25.5%) and Saudi Arabia (22.2%). The paper tries to explore ways and means, the investment pattern of migrant workers’ remittances that can influence education and its impact on mobility. Particular emphasis has been placed on remittances and economic share of Afghan refugees in relation to investment in education endeavors.