I claim When a child has to move away from home, the consequences can be fatal at a certain age

The story is part of the I argue series, where one expert shares his or her views on an interesting topic related to his or her field.

Elina Kilpi-Jakonen works as an assistant professor of sociology. He is involved in a research group at the University of Turku that investigated the effects of inter-municipal migration on school dropouts.

“Moving into childhood away from your old place of residence increases your child’s risk of dropping out of school. Drop-out means that a young person does not complete any degree after primary school.

Among children who have moved from one region to another in childhood, there are 7–8 per cent more school dropouts than children living in only one locality.

The difference is significant, as society aims for the whole age group to have a secondary education. In general, parents also want to secure a good future for their children through education.

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“School support and friends influence the choices a young person makes in their postgraduate studies.”

Migration affects a child’s school path at any age. However, the child is most vulnerable when the family moves just as the young person is transitioning from primary to further education. At this point, the young person thinks about educational exchanges and makes big decisions about their own future. These decisions are often made with the support of important familiar things.

When a family moves away from their old place of residence, almost everything in a child’s life changes. An adult may not even know how big the change is from a school-age child’s perspective. Familiar school, friends and hobbies remain. At the same time, the child loses many important pillars. In addition to family, school support and friends influence the choices a young person makes in their postgraduate studies.

School is more than just a place for students to study. It is a place where a child meets safe adults and peers. School is a child safety net that has a broad impact on a child’s well-being.

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“Parents’ higher education does not protect the migrant from dropping out of school.”

When the family change, parents often have to start building their own social support networks from scratch. They may have fewer resources than before to support their children.

Unemployment and resignation deplete parental resources. In migrant families, parental unemployment and separation are more common than in families that have remained in one region.

Contrary to what might be expected, the higher education of parents does not protect the migrant from dropping out of school. Highly educated parents have no other resources to support their child in a migration situation, but moving increases the risk of dropping out of school just as much regardless of their parents ’level of education.

Even in the midst of migration, it can be difficult for parents to remember that their children also have to adjust to the new one. They may not realize that a child and parents may see migration in different ways.

For a parent, moving can be a step in the right direction. For a young person, it can be a huge setback, and the feelings caused by moving can erupt into quarrels. Adapting to something new is demanding for everyone, and sharing knowledge can make it easier.

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“It would be good to understand how stressful the move is for the family.”

High school take care of themselves and push children forward on the school path in a good way. At present, however, schools do not have sufficient resources to support new students entering the school, especially during the transition period of postgraduate studies. It would be important to invest in the equality of children and young people and their involvement in the school community at all levels of education.

It would be good to understand how stressful the situation of moving is for the family. The migrant needs help from neighbors, the school and the work community to adapt. Karelian community and a way to notice a newcomer, even with a gift of food could speed up the adjustment. ”

The story was published in HS Our Family magazine 12/2021.