IMPACT OF SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS (SFPS) ON THE ENROLMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN THE KATHONZWENI SUB-COUNTY, MAKUENI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the impact of school feeding programs on the enrollment of students in public primary schools in Kathonzweni Sub-County. The research questions that directed this study are as follows: How do school feeding programs influence attendance? What impact do school feeding programs have on the attention and retention of students? The study employed a descriptive research design. The target population for the study included the headteachers and teachers of the selected schools. A simple random sampling technique was used to choose the respondents. Data collection was carried out through questionnaires and interview guides. The researcher utilized SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 27 to analyze quantitative data. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the data, enabling the researcher to draw conclusions and make recommendations. The study found that most headteachers and teachers described the students' attendance as regular, and attributed this to the school meals. This shows that school feeding programs have influenced the attendance of students in schools in Kathonzweni Sub-County, Makueni County. The findings also revealed that the participation of students in class was described as lively by the majority of the respondents, and most indicated that school meals influenced student participation to a large extent. Therefore, the introduction of SFP enhanced the active participation of students in class, making them more engaged. The study also found that most respondents, including headteachers and teachers, described the dropout rate as low, indicating that school meals played a role in retaining students in school. Drought, famine, and poverty were identified as the main reasons for student dropout, indicating that SFP also influenced the completion rate of students in Kathonzweni Sub-County, Makueni County, as drought and famine were the primary reasons for dropout.