Rural-urban disparities in educational well-being: a study of secondary school children in Sri Lanka

This research paper explores the disparities in educational well-being among secondary school children in Sri Lanka based on geographic location, focusing on the differences between urban and rural contexts. Significant variation in resource allocation, school infrastructure, and parental educationa...

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Main Authors: Careemdeen, Jalal Deen, Mohd Mahzan Awang
Format: Article
Language:en
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2025
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26680/1/%5B79-90%5D%20Rural-Urban%20Disparities%20in%20Educational%20Well-Being%20A%20Study%20of%20Secondary%20School.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26680/
http://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/index
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author Careemdeen, Jalal Deen
Mohd Mahzan Awang,
author_facet Careemdeen, Jalal Deen
Mohd Mahzan Awang,
author_sort Careemdeen, Jalal Deen
building Tun Sri Lanang Library
collection Institutional Repository
content_provider Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
content_source UKM Journal Article Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
description This research paper explores the disparities in educational well-being among secondary school children in Sri Lanka based on geographic location, focusing on the differences between urban and rural contexts. Significant variation in resource allocation, school infrastructure, and parental educational backgrounds mark Sri Lanka's educational landscape, creating a diverse backdrop for the study. The research examines how these urban-rural disparities influence key dimensions of students' educational well-being, particularly access to educational resources and the development of hard, soft, and social skills that contribute to their ability to lead fulfilling and productive lives. The study aims to identify patterns of inequality, challenges, and opportunities that can inform policy-making and targeted interventions by focusing on the environments in which students live and learn. The research adopts a survey-based quantitative methodology, collecting data from a representative sample of 1,350 secondary school students across Sri Lanka. The data were analysed using Likert scales to measure educational well-being and a One-Way MANOVA to assess location-based differences. The findings indicate statistically significant differences in educational well-being across locations, with urban students scoring higher in all dimensions: access to resources, soft skills, social skills, and vocational skills. This study recommends targeted resource allocation, enhanced teacher training, skill development programmess, and comprehensive support systems, alongside further research, to improve educational well-being and ensure equitable opportunities for both urban and rural students.
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institution Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
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spelling my-ukm.journal.266802026-03-09T02:07:20Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26680/ Rural-urban disparities in educational well-being: a study of secondary school children in Sri Lanka Careemdeen, Jalal Deen Mohd Mahzan Awang, This research paper explores the disparities in educational well-being among secondary school children in Sri Lanka based on geographic location, focusing on the differences between urban and rural contexts. Significant variation in resource allocation, school infrastructure, and parental educational backgrounds mark Sri Lanka's educational landscape, creating a diverse backdrop for the study. The research examines how these urban-rural disparities influence key dimensions of students' educational well-being, particularly access to educational resources and the development of hard, soft, and social skills that contribute to their ability to lead fulfilling and productive lives. The study aims to identify patterns of inequality, challenges, and opportunities that can inform policy-making and targeted interventions by focusing on the environments in which students live and learn. The research adopts a survey-based quantitative methodology, collecting data from a representative sample of 1,350 secondary school students across Sri Lanka. The data were analysed using Likert scales to measure educational well-being and a One-Way MANOVA to assess location-based differences. The findings indicate statistically significant differences in educational well-being across locations, with urban students scoring higher in all dimensions: access to resources, soft skills, social skills, and vocational skills. This study recommends targeted resource allocation, enhanced teacher training, skill development programmess, and comprehensive support systems, alongside further research, to improve educational well-being and ensure equitable opportunities for both urban and rural students. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2025-07 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26680/1/%5B79-90%5D%20Rural-Urban%20Disparities%20in%20Educational%20Well-Being%20A%20Study%20of%20Secondary%20School.pdf Careemdeen, Jalal Deen and Mohd Mahzan Awang, (2025) Rural-urban disparities in educational well-being: a study of secondary school children in Sri Lanka. e-Bangi Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 22 (3). pp. 79-90. ISSN 1823-884x http://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/index
spellingShingle Careemdeen, Jalal Deen
Mohd Mahzan Awang,
Rural-urban disparities in educational well-being: a study of secondary school children in Sri Lanka
title Rural-urban disparities in educational well-being: a study of secondary school children in Sri Lanka
title_full Rural-urban disparities in educational well-being: a study of secondary school children in Sri Lanka
title_fullStr Rural-urban disparities in educational well-being: a study of secondary school children in Sri Lanka
title_full_unstemmed Rural-urban disparities in educational well-being: a study of secondary school children in Sri Lanka
title_short Rural-urban disparities in educational well-being: a study of secondary school children in Sri Lanka
title_sort rural-urban disparities in educational well-being: a study of secondary school children in sri lanka
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26680/1/%5B79-90%5D%20Rural-Urban%20Disparities%20in%20Educational%20Well-Being%20A%20Study%20of%20Secondary%20School.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26680/
http://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/index
url_provider http://journalarticle.ukm.my/