The Effect of Remittances on Child Schooling in Kenya

Abstract

Developing Countries grapple with inadequate public resources to finance education. Constrained public resources necessitates household income like remittances to complement public resources in their quest to finance education of household members. The paper investigated the effects of remittances on child schooling in Kenya using nationally representative data ─ the 2015/2016 Kenya Integrated household budget survey (KIHBS). Using probit model technique for different age groups─6-13 and 14-17 corresponding to primary and secondary schooling years respectively. The results showed that remittances was insignificant in influencing both primary and secondary schooling. However, household income was of great positive significant impact on school attendance (primary and secondary) in Kenya. The study also concluded that household size, household income, and the residential area also positively and significantly determined secondary school attendance whereas household income and age of the child influenced primary school attendance in Kenya. The study, therefore, recommends that governments and aid-giving organizations give households some basic income to increase primary and secondary school attendance