Factors influencing the success of school feeding programs in public primary schools in Dagoretti north constituency Nairobi county, Kenya

Abstract

School feeding programs in Kenya was introduced 1966 with an aim of improving participation of children in primary schools, in relation to enrolment, retention and academic performance. Previous studies carried out to determine the factors that influence the implementation of school feeding programs in Dagoretti North Constituency schools have yielded mixed results. The study sought to reconcile these conflicting research findings by assessing whether these factors influence school feeding programs. These factors included; availability of funds, physical facilities, school management and monitoring and evaluation. The objective of this study was to find out the factors that influenced the success of school feeding programs in Dagoretti North Constituency public primary schools as well as suggest possible interventions and strategies for a better school feeding program. The study was based on the Classical Theory of Equal Opportunity advanced by John Dewey , which argues that education systems should be designed with a view of removing barriers of any nature that hinder children from lower economic backgrounds from taking advantage of talents that could accelerate social promotion. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design targeting four primary schools in Dagoretti North District which had the school feeding program. The target population comprised of 4 Head teachers, 116 teachers and 4550 pupils of in the four primary schools in Dagoretti North District Nairobi.Using Morgans Table, the study sample comprised of 345 pupils and 9 teachers. Purposive sampling was used to select 4 Head teachers from the four schools since they were few and yet they were the managers of the schools who possessed vital information about the school feeding programs in their schools. The schools were selected using the stratified random sampling technique. The data was collected using questionnaires for teachers, Head teachers and pupils. Both primary and secondary data sources were used .Prior to the actual data collection procedure, a pilot study was conducted in two schools to test the reliability and validity of the instruments. The data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics (frequency distribution tables. Data was presented in tables . Recommendations will be made on the factors that influence school feeding programs. The data was collected using questionnaires for teachers, Head teachers and pupils. Both primary and secondary data sources were used .Prior to the actual data collection procedure, a pilot study was conducted in two schools to test the reliability and validity of the instruments. The data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics (frequency distribution tables). Data was presented in tables. Recommendations will be made on the factors that influence school feeding programs. After the study, it was established that funds, physical facilities, proper school management and monitoring and evaluation were very paramount for the success of school feeding program. The researcher made some recommendation that government and donors should take full responsibility of installing. Running and maintaining the school feeding programs .Encourage community participation, construct dining halls. It was also recommended that should be a re-orient of the field monitoring system to include indicators of the school environment that influence the effectiveness of school feeding programs like seasonal firewood and water