Among 80 rural Swazi children tested upon entrance to formal schooling, those whose fathers were absent for long periods because of work migration had significantly lower scores on school readiness tests than did children with fathers at home. Results were not related to sex of child or family socioeconomic status. (SV)

Longitudinal study of 54 rural Swazi elementary students found that a child's progression to grade 5 without grade repetition was predicted by 8 factors together: gender, preschool school-preparedness scores, father presence or absence, time and help available for homework, parent reading, child being read to at home, and regular breakfast.…

In rural Swaziland, fathers often migrate for work, leaving wives and children behind. The family is denied the presence of a husband, father, and role model, as well as economic support, which fathers often fail to remit home regularly. A longitudinal study investigated the effects of parent availability and other home characteristics on the…