Publication:

An Assessment of School Feeding Programme on Atendance of Primary School Children- Mavoko Zone, Athiriver District.

This is a research report on a study carried out in Mavoko zone , Athiriver Division, Athiriver District. The purpose of the study was to help to determine the impacts of school feeding programme on the attendance of primary school pupils in this area. The target population consisted of all school going children enrolled in 22 public primary schools numbering to about 9453 whereby 5143 are boys and 4310 are girls. From this, a sample of 8 teachers, 50 pupils and 4 parent representatives were sampled. The schools, teachers, parents and pupils were selected through random sampling technique while the head teachers were selected on purposive sampling technique. Data was collected using questionnaires, documents checklist, observation schedules and interview schedules. Analysis of the data was done using the measure of of central tendency where frequencies, percentages and mean was used to present the findings. The findings reveal that lack of food significantly contribute to regular absent ism in schools which in turn lead to poor performance and in long run leads to poor economic development in the region. The study also sought to establish the type of diet that pupils need to be given so as to promote holistic development which will ensure that the pupils get a balanced diet which will improve attendance and in long run improves academic performance. Therefore is need for the government, headmasters, parents, sponsors to start school feeding programmes in their schools so as to curb the problem of truancy among school going children.