Table 2.

Main themes with the respective subthemes derived from thematic analysis

Main Theme	Sub-theme
1. Social and economic impact of migrant labour	1. Physical and mental health impact of separation
	2. Impact of gender on separation and academic performance
	3. Role of schools – care-substitutes versus caregivers
	4. Economic impact – materialism
	5. Long separation of parents leading to divorce
2. Relationships between Schools and Migrant families	1. Disrupted communication and high expectations by parents towards teachers
	2. Schools in need of external support