Effect of School Feeding Programme on ECDE Pupils’ Class Participation in Kenya

Abstract

World Food Programme (WFP) and the Kenyan Ministry of Education introduced school feeding programme in targeted pre-primary and primary schools in 1980. However, its effects in promoting pupils’ class participation in early childhood are not clear. The objective of the study was to assess the pupils’ class participation in ECDE centres with a school feeding programme and those without. The study also sought to test out the following null hypothesis (Ho1): There is no statistically significant difference in class participation of pupils in ECDE centres with feeding programme and those without. The study used descriptive survey research design. The total number of pupils was 54,629 from 1163 centres. Twenty centres were purposively selected based on high population. 380 pupils were sampled using Krejcie and Morgan’s table (1970). Twenty headteachers, 20 teachers and two county directors were sampled. This study was theoretically guided by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Data was collected by means of an interview schedule, questionnaires and an observation schedule. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics by using SPSS. The Major finding is that pupils in ECDE centres with SFP participate more than those in schools without SFP. The study recommends that SFP be implemented in all schools.