Influence of School Feeding Program on the Retention of Learners in Public Primary Schools in Kenya; a Case of Mombasa County

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the factors influencing school feeding program on the retention of learners in public primary schools in Kenya, a case of Mombasa County. This research was driven by the fact that previous studies carried out to determine factors that influence school feeding program have yielded mixed results. The County Government having the mandate of preschools in the new dispensation has strived to provide feeding programmes to all public preschools to ensure future human development in our countries. The study sought to find out how school feeding programme influence the retention of learners in public primary school; Four objectives guided this study including sustainability of feeding, alleviation of short term hunger, also quality of milk and finally the frequency of meals. The researcher employed the use of descriptive survey design. The target population of the study comprised 50 preprimary school teachers and 10 head teachers. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, which included frequency distributions, their mean and standard deviation and represented using figures and tables. The study concludes that sustainable feeding program as a school feeding program, alleviation of short term hunger , quality of milk and finally the frequency of meals as a school feeding program initiative highly influences the retention of learners in public primary schools. The study was guided by Abraham Maslow theory of basic human needs which demonstrates that once basic needs are met, people can express their other needs and Vroom Expectancy Theory of Motivation that assumes there is correlation between effort put by the employees and their performance. The study established that 26.09% of respondents were male while 73.91% were female. The research showed that 39.13% of respondents were between the age of 21 to 25 years implying that the implementers of the program are mostly young people with energy. The study found that sustainable feeding program reduces drop out hence retention of the pupils in school with 56.52% rate. Again the study findings showed that that each of the indicators of alleviation of short term hunger as a school feeding program initiative highly influenced pupil’s retention in public primary schools with 55.07% rate. On the quality of milk in relation to retention of learners in public primary schools the study found that 50.72%nutritious meal encourages enrolment of more pupils in school especially lower classes thus enhancing retention of pupils and also the 52.17% of respondents agree that the frequency of meals influences the retention of learners in public primary schools. The study recommends that the ministry of education should review the School feeding Programme and extend it upper primary classes; also the county government and the ministry of education should collaborate to create structures for sustainable feeding program. Regarding the quality of milk the study recommends that nutritionist should be involved in order to give knowledge on the amount required for pupils per day so that children have a balanced diet food in schools and lastly the schools should increase the frequency of food being given to pupils in order for it to benefit more pupils.