Influence of school feeding programme on pupils participation in public primary schools in flood prone areas of Garsen division, Tana delta district, Kenya

Abstract

The advocates of the School Feeding Programme (SFP) lay claim on relationship between SFP and improved attendance of school and minimized drop-outs. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of school feeding programme on pupils‟ participation in flood prone areas of Garsen division in Tana River County. The study was guided by the following objectives: to assess the influence of school feeding programme on the pupils‟ class attendance, pupils class involvement, pupils‟ enrolment and pupils‟ dropout in flood prone Garsen Division, Tana Delta District. The study sought to find answers to four research questions which were formulated to guide the study. The research methodology for the study was descriptive survey design. The target population for the study included all the 12 head teachers, 141 teachers and 3,172 pupils in Garsen Division. The sample consisted of 12 head teachers, 48 teachers and 288 pupils. The research instrument was questionnaires. It was used to collect data from the head teachers, teachers and pupils. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The study established that school feeding program influenced the enrolment of pupils in primary school in Garsen division. The study also established that the school feeding programme influenced the attendance of pupils in schools in Garsen division. The study established that SFP enhanced the participation of the pupils in class as their participation was described as lively. The SFP also influenced the dropout rate of the pupils as hunger was number one reason for dropout. The study therefore concluded that school feeding program influenced the enrolment of pupils in primary school; the attendance of pupils in schools; enhanced active participation of the pupils in class; and influenced the dropout rate of the pupils in Garsen Division as hunger was number one reason for dropout. The study recommended that the government should increase the coverage of the areas under school feeding programme especially the regions prone to floods with the view to improving the enrolment rates; the government should ensure there is a constant supply of school meal so as to maintain the pupils attend school regularly; the government and the donors should ensure the school meal has the right nutrients so as to keep the children alert in class to actively participate in the learning process and the government should ensure that all the schools in the flood prone regions have SFP so that hunger does not force any child to drop out of school.