School feeding program and pupils' participation in primary schools in Kenya. A study of Taita Taveta and Nairobi Districts

Abstract

Provision of education is a major component in the realization of the Kenya's vision 2030. There are however challenges of equity for every citizen to participate towards the envisaged developments as a result of poverty of the households. This challenge may deny many children an opportunity to attend school and hence acquire necessary knowledge and skills. This study therefore examined the influence of School Feeding Program on the pupils' participation in primary schools in Kenya by looking at Taita Taveta and Nairobi Districts. Five objectives guided the study; to examine the extent to which the school feeding program has influenced pupils' school attendance in public primary schools in Taita-Taveta and Nairobi west district, to determine the influence of the school feeding program on learners' academic achievement in Taita-Taveta and Nairobi west district primary schools, to establish the extent to which the school feeding program influences the levels of learners' involvement in co-curricular activities in primary schools, to determine the level of establishment of school based projects aimed at sustaining school feeding programs in Taita-Taveta and Nairobi west districts and to establish how adequacy of food provided to pupils under school feeding program influenced class attendance in public primary schools in Nairobi west district. A total of 37 schools were sampled in both districts. A descriptive survey design was used during the study. From the study findings it was established that; School feeding program has had a number of influences in the implementation of various school programs notably; curriculum implementation process as can be illustrated in pupils' school attendance, in pupils' academic achievement and participation in co-curricular activities and school administration process. The statistics collected from the study indicate that the program in both districts had not succeeded in increasing enrolment neither had it resulted to an improvement in KCPE performance in public primary schools. Findings also indicate that the program plays a major role in enhancing pupils' participation in co-curricular activities. The program therefore needs to be strengthened in order to ensure the benefits accrued from it are not lost especially the anticipated increase in academic performance. In conclusion the school feeding program has played a big role in the curriculum implementation and participation of pupils in primary education in the two districts. The findings may therefore be used by policy makers and administrators to improve on pupils' participation in primary school education.