AN INVESTIGATION ON THE IMPACT OF SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM ON PUPILS ENROLMENT AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

Simply put, school feeding is the distribution of meals to children via schools. Different nations, according to Oyefade Adeniyi (2014), have one or a mix of the two feeding modes in place for diverse goals. They may, however, be divided into two categories: in-school meals and take-home rations, which provide food to families if their children attend school. In-school meals have traditionally been the most common kind of school food intervention. School feeding may be divided into two types: programs that give meals and programs that provide high-energy biscuits or snacks in order to increase school enrollment, retention rates, and address gender and socioeconomic inequities (Akanbi, B.O, 2013). According to Uduku, Abasi (2011), there are "indications of a considerable shift in thinking regarding school feeding, with many components of this new thinking being vigorously pushed under the heading of "home grown school feeding." Every year, the Globe Food Program gives food to millions of schoolchildren throughout the world as an incentive to get them to go to school and stay there. The initiative focuses on communities with the lowest enrollment rates and the greatest potential for improving children's educational skills (WFP, 1999). WFP began a worldwide effort in 2001 to increase access to education for millions of children throughout the globe. By that time, there were 66 million hungry schoolchildren in the globe (World Food Program, 2001). School lunches, according to Ahmed, V.O (2004), enhanced student involvement in school. In comparison to schools where no feeding programs were offered, Ahmed discovered that school feeding boosted enrollment, lowered dropout rate, raised attendance, and enhanced performance in participating schools.

School feeding programs are important initiatives that have been implemented in many developed and developing nations across the globe to combat poverty, increase school enrollment, and improve student performance. Almost 60 million children in poor nations go to school hungry every day, with Africa accounting for almost 40% of them. As a result, providing school meals is critical in terms of feeding youngsters. Parents are encouraged to send their children to school rather than keep them at home to work or look after siblings (Akanbi Olawale, 2013). The introduction of school feeding can be traced back to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) initiative and subsequent African leaders' conferences aimed at addressing issues such as peace, security, good economic, political, and corporate governance, and making the continent an appealing destination for foreign investment. The 'New Partnership for African Development,' according to the blueprint, is a pledge by African leaders, based on a common vision and a firm and shared conviction, to eradicate poverty and put their countries on a path of sustainable growth and development while also participating actively in the global economy and politics. Among other efforts, the 'Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program' and the 'Millennium Hunger Task Force' were created to connect school meals to agricultural development via the purchase and usage of locally produced food (Bundy et al, 2009).

Nigeria is one of the twelve (12) pilot nations selected to carry out the program. Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, and Mali are among the countries that have started implementing the school feeding program. As a consequence, in 2004, the federal government passed the Universal Basic Education Act, which gave the necessary statutory support for the Home Grown School Feeding and Health Program to be implemented. In 2005, the Federal Ministry of Education developed the Home Grown School Feeding and Health Program in order to achieve the goals of the Universal Basic Education program and to emphasize the importance of nutrition. The ultimate purpose of Nigeria's School Feeding Program is to eliminate hunger and malnutrition among schoolchildren while also improving Universal Basic Education attainment.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

According to figures issued by the Federal Ministry of Education recently, school enrollment in Nigeria's primary schools fell from 10.5 million to 8.6 million in 2017. (Oludare,M.B. 2018). Given the country's rising poverty and opposition to schooling in certain sections of the north, this was a major improvement. The launch of a school feeding program by the government in collaboration with several state governments corresponds with an increase in primary school enrollment. Many parents who had previously refused to send their children to school are apparently changing their minds and deciding to send them to school as a result of the Federal Government's supply of a daily meal in various schools around the nation. It was also discovered that some parents are transferring their children from private to public schools in order to take advantage of the free school food program. Normally, a rise in out-of-school enrollment, or rather a drop in out-of-school enrolment, would be welcomed news, as it indicates an improvement in life expectancy and the country's determination to combat poverty via education. However, the very scheme that appears to have boosted school enrollment in some parts of the country is losing steam and may end up like any other government program as a result of widespread corruption and a lack of commitment on the part of states and even the federal government to ensure the scheme's success (Oludare,M.B. 2018).

Many of the states that are now implementing the program have reported poor results in terms of program execution and the quality of the food supplied to the children by the vendors, owing to budget constraints. Frequently, the meal quality was poor, inadequate, and insufficient to feed all of the students who were supposed to be fed (Oludare, M.B. 2018).

In other instances, government-hired vendors who supplied food to participating schools were shortchanged by state education ministry officials in charge of distribution, while those appointed to monitor the process were not dedicated to carrying out their duties. This however aroused the interest of the researcher to investigate the impact of school feeding program on pupils enrolment and academic achievement in primary schools.

1.3     Objectives of the Study

The main objectives of this study is to find out the impact of school feeding program on pupils enrolment and academic achievement in primary schools. Specifically the study intends to;

i.            To examine the factors responsible for the introduction of the school feeding programme.

ii.            To analyze the effect of school feeding program on the enrolment of pupil’s into primary schools.

iii.      To investigate the impact of the school feeding programme on the academic achievements of primary school students.

iv.          To examine the challenges facing the Nigeria school feeding program.

1.4     Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

i.             What are the factors responsible for the introduction of the school feeding programme?

ii.           What are the effect of school feeding program on the enrolment of pupil’s into primary schools?

iii.      What are the impact of the school feeding programme on the academic achievements of primary school students?

iv.         What are  the challenges facing the Nigeria school feeding program?

1.5     Significance of the Study

The findings will be beneficial to the government and education stakeholders by showing how school feeding program assisted in guaranteeing learners’ regular school attendance and active participation in school activities. It may reveal the significant role played by school feeding program on attainment of universal primary education on the way to realizing, Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and educational vision. The study will also awaken teachers to maximize their teaching efforts as the pupils are ready and motivated to learn.

The study will also, be significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature and serve as a guide to students who may want to further in the research.

1.6     Scope of the Study

This research work will examine the factors responsible for the introduction of the school feeding programme. The study will also analyze the effect of school feeding program on the enrolment of pupil’s into primary schools. The study will further  investigate the impact of the school feeding programme on the academic achievements of primary school students. Lastly, the study will examine the challenges facing the Nigeria school feeding program. Hence the study will be delimited to primary schools in Yola, Adamawa state.

1.7     Delimitation of the Study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. Insufficient funds tend to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview), which is why the researcher resorted to a moderate choice of sample size. More so, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

1.8     Definition of Terms

School Feeding Program: Interventions that regularly provide nutritious foods to children

Pupils: A person who is taught by another, especially a schoolchild or student in relation to a teacher

Enrolment: The action of enrolling or being enrolled.

Academic achievement: performance outcomes that indicate the extent to which a person has accomplished specific goals that were the focus of activities in instructional environments, specifically in school, college, and university

Get this material NGN 5,000

Message Us on WhatsApp  »