specific needs of children and elderly left behind as a ... - IOM Moldova

The perception Children’s of labour education migration
1.3. Children’s education
• Access to education (equal opportunities)
Limited access to education services leads to a decrease in social inclusion
capacities by reducing the possibilities to get a basic education, a profession
and finally a job. Thus, these persons become candidates for a life of
poverty and potential beneficiaries of social assistance services.
The study highlights that migration for work becomes an income source
that in most cases allows providing the child with all necessary school
supplies. Remittances substantially contribute to preparing the child
for the new school year: “In August we bought clothing and footwear. I
spent over 600 lei” (III_C_16); “We spend money on clothing, we need to
buy books at school” (FG_C_2_rural), and for daily school activities: “For
lunch, school supplies” (FG_C_2_rural); “She gives me money for school...
for copybooks, textbooks, pens” (III_C_1); “I have to buy copybooks and other
things necessary for tests” (III_C_5); “Sometimes I ask for more money as
I need to buy textbooks for school” (III_C_6).
The interviewees consider the possibility to continue their education
at higher levels as an existing opportunity determined by external financial
resources sent by parents working abroad: “My sister is studying
at a Romanian university” (FG_C_2_rural); also as a future opportunity:
“To go to a Romanian high school” (FG_C_2_rural); “I have good
results at the university, I have a good scholarship” (III_C_2); “I want
to study at a university in Chisinau” (III_C_6); “I want to study at the
Polytechnic University” (III_C_13); “I want to enter the Department of
Psychology” (III_C_18). Children are aware of the importance of remittances
and the effort their parents take in this regard: “I want to become
a doctor, to help sick people. I talked to my parents about that. My mother
said that she is happy that I want to be a doctor, but I have to study a lot.
I have to do my best. I know I will need a lot of money for studying medicine.
That is what my parents work for” (III_C_27). The interviewed
experts revealed the tendency to choose between the increase of living
standards as a result of parental migration and the option to continue
their education: “Children whose parents are abroad aim to get to the
university and they won’t accept other professions, just those of an economist,
a lawyer or a doctor” (FG_EC_rural).
The interviewed experts mentioned that parents’ migration is beneficial
as remittances contribute to increased access to education for families
with low income: “The positive aspect is the financial situation, for instance
if their parents are abroad they can take some private lessons”; “A small
number do it, they help with the reparation but just a little”; “Only for repairing
the classroom” (FG_EC_rural), which is seen as a positive thing by
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