Contribution of School Feeding Program on Learners’ Academic Performance in Public Primary Schools in Rwanda

Abstract

School feeding program plays a significant role in the promotion of students, teachers and school performance. The purpose of this study therefore was to ascertain the contribution of school feeding program on students’ academic performance in primary schools of Rwamagana District in Rwanda. The target population was 3302 respondents that provided the sample size of 357 respondents got using Yamane formula. Interview guide, questionnaire and document analysis review were used as data collection instruments. Descriptive survey design was employed. The findings revealed that in primary schools of Rwamagana, there is a program of school feeding although food served to the learners is not enough. In the primary schools of Rwamagana District, there is the program of school feeding. In these schools there are the variations of food served to the learners and the quantity of food served to each learner depends on their level. The learners are given balanced diet which is delicious. The food is not enough and there is not safe drinking water for learners. Despite all measures taken by the government of Rwanda toward education, in primary schools of Rwamagana District, there is poor academic performance. Nevertheless, there is a positive correlation between school feeding program and attendance of the learners as it was agreed by 243(68.1%). School feeding also is a catalyst to academic performance. The learners who take food at school perform better than the learner who does not take food at school. School feeding program is a powerful and integrated way to encourage children to attend school, to support their learning and to prepare them for success. So, school feeding play a tangible role to academic performance. The study recommended that the government with all education stakeholders should build dining room for students so that they have to take food without any challenge. Policy makers and planners should also spread safe water to the schools which haven’t water and to the other schools which have insufficient water in order to help learner to have safe water for drinking and to have water needed in cleaning and cooking. Keywords: Academic performance, School feeding and public primary school