Publication:

The impact of government feeding programs on public Primary schools in Mbooni East Sub-County Makueni County

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 investigate the impact of government feeding programmes on public primary schools in Mbooni east Sub-county Makueni County. The study was guided by the following objectives: to assess the impact of school feeding programme on the pupil’s class attendance, pupil’s class involvement, pupil’s enrolment and pupil’s dropout in Mbooni east Sub-county Makueni County. 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 109 head teachers, 763 teachers and 3022 pupils in Mbooni East Sub-county. The sample consisted of 45 head teachers, 70 teachers and 300 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 Mbooni East Sub-county. The study also established that the school feeding programme influenced the attendance of pupils in schools in Mbooni East Sub-county. 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 Mbooni East Sub-county 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 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 Makueni County have SFP so that hunger does not force any child to drop out of school.