Role of Education in Social Mobility among Low-Income Communities in Layyah District, Pakistan

Abstract

It is generally recognized that education is one of the most important sources of social mobility, and people belonging to the marginalized and low-income groups can better their socioeconomic position and have higher chances of employment and life opportunities. The educational inequality in Pakistan with respect to access and quality has further supported the social inequalities, especially in rural areas like the Layyah district where poverty, lack of education infrastructure and social cultural systems have been the main obstacles to educational attainment. This paper examines how education has contributed to social mobility in low-income populations in the Layyah District, in terms of access to formal education, quality of learning and how the perceived effects of educational attainment on social and economic outcomes. The study reflects both the opportunities and challenges the students and families experience when trying to use education to achieve upward mobility using the mixed-method approach that incorporates household surveys, interviews, and school data analysis. The results suggest that although education plays a key role in social progress hopes, there are structural factors, gender expectations, and economic restrictions to its ability to do so. The policy implications include information that special measures are necessary, more resources are required, and that communities should be involved in maximizing the effect of education on social mobility among the disadvantaged groups.