Influence of School Feeding Programmes on the Participation of Ecde Learners in Language Activities in Kanduyi Zone, Bungoma County, Kenya

Abstract

This study was conducted in Kanduyi in order to establish the influence of school feeding programmes on participation of ECDE learners in language activities. The objectives of the study were: to establish whether provision of school feeding programme and type of food offered influence learners’ participation in language activities in Kanduyi zone, to determine whether parental attitudes towards school feeding program influence learners’ participation in language activities in Kanduyi zone, to investigate challenges that face ECDE centres while providing school feeding programme and how they affect learners’ participation in language activities in Kanduyi zone. The study used a survey design, the population of the study was 300 parents of ECDE children, 32 teachers in charge of 32 centres, 90 parents of ECDE learners were identified as respondents to the study. The instruments that were used to collect data were questionnaires and interview schedules on teachers and parents respectively. Data was collected and analysed by use of frequencies and percentages and later presented by use of tables, pie charts and graphs. The study’s findings revealed that children who persistently per took on school feeding programme, were active in language activities and expressed themselves clearly. The programes’s nature of allowing interaction and socialization developed children’s’ vocabulary. They also suggested that, as much as parents were willing to contribute school feeding programme their major challenges arose from families who depend on farming and salary delays at parents post off duty which delayed timely commitments. Due to this the researcher recommended that the Ministry of Education through the county governments should allocate funds which may aid in securing food for school feeding. Ensuring that parents are sensitized on what maters a lot in children’s’ well-being, especially that active participation in language activities wholly depends upon relevant nutrition hence supporting school feeding programme is very significant.