Influence Of School Feeding Programmes On Pupils’ Participation In Primary School Education In Samburu East Constituency, Samburu County, Kenya.

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of School Feeding Programmes (SFP) on pupils’ participation in primary education in Samburu East Constituency, Samburu County. The objectives of the study were to establish how types of school feeding programmes influence pupils’ participation in primary school education; to assess how frequency of feeding affects pupils’ participation in primary school education; to examine how adequacy of food influences pupils’ participation in primary school education, and to determine the influence of community participation on pupils’ participation in primary school education in Samburu East Constituency. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Purposive sampling, proportionate stratified sampling and simple random sampling were used to derive a sample of 9 headteachers, 45 teachers and 135 pupils from a population of 45 primary schools. Data was collected using three different questionnaires for headteachers, teachers and pupils respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study established that type of SFP implemented had a strong positive influence on participation of pupils in primary education; frequency of feeding has a moderate positive influence on pupils’ participation in primary school education; adequacy of food had a moderate positive influence on pupils’ participation in primary school education, and community participation in SFP had a strong, positive influence on participation of pupils in primary school education. The study recommended that the SFP menu should be diversified; the portions served increased, and the number of meals upscaled. In addition, schools should lobby for more food, and local agriculture production should be increased to foster greater community participation and sustainability of School Feeding Programme. These findings and recommendations will help the government and Ministry of Education officials, school administrators and teachers, to plan SFP for maximal benefit to pupils and the education system. Moreover, this study will benefit the academic community in the areas of SPF, education and project planning and management.