Examining the Role of Feeding Programmes in Enhancing Pupil Attendance in Garissa Public Junior Schools

Abstract

Food has been identified as one of the key tools that enhances effectiveness of learning in public junior schools, therefore, school feeding programme is an essential element for development of the child. Despite the implementation of school feeding programme in public junior schools in Kenya, there is limited research on the school feeding programme and pupil transition, particularly in marginalized areas such as Garissa Township Sub-County. So, this study assessed the influence of school feeding programme on pupils’ attendance in public junior schools in Garissa township Sub- County. The study was guided by the Abraham Maslow theory of hierarchy of needs. This study adopted a correlational research design. The target population was all 25 public junior schools in Garissa Township and the unit of analysis was the 25 headteachers and 267 teachers in public junior schools in Garissa township Sub- County. Simple random sampling as the study utilized a sample size of 30% of the population which translated to 89 respondents. This study used questionnaire for collecting data. The questionnaire contained close-ended questions. Data was analysis to yield descriptive statistics while correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships. The findings revealed that the school feeding programme was significantly associated with pupil attendance in public junior schools in Garissa township Sub- County (r = 0.298, p = 0.008. The study then concluded that school feeding programme has a positively significant influence on pupils’ attendance in public junior schools in Garissa township Sub- County This was an indication that sustained attendance facilitated by school feeding contributes to improved learning outcomes.