Provision of Meals in School and Learner Participation in Public Primary Schools in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

School Feeding Programme strategies enable primary pupils to qualify for high nutritious school meals, comprehensive health package and nutritious services. This paper established how provision of meals in school influenced learner participation in Public Primary Schools in Makueni County, Kenya. The study was anchored on; Social Learning Theory. Pragmatism Paradigm guides the study as it delivers for the usage of quantitative and qualitative approaches of research. Descriptive research survey design and correlation research design were employed. Target population was 875 people comprising County Education Officers, Sub County Education Officers, and Chairpersons- Board of Management, Head teachers, Teachers and learners in school feeding programme. Using Yamane’s formula, a sample size of 275 was drawn. Purposive sampling, simple random methods were employed to select appropriate sample size. Closed and open ended questionnaire, and interview guide were employed to gather research information.  Pilot testing to assess validity and reliability of the study instruments was conducted in Machakos County. Quantitative and qualitative information were analyzed using descriptive, and inferential statistics. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 25 and results presented. To demonstrate the strength and association of the variables under investigation, several linear regression models were used. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation coefficient(r) was computed. The coefficient determination R2 is 0.440 this is an indicator that R2 was coefficient of determination of this model and it depicted that provision of meals in school explained 44%. The remaining 56% was explained by other factors and the overall F statistics was 11.510. The findings were presented in tables with correlations, regressions, mean, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages. Null hypotheses was tested, and the study findings were: There is no significant association between provision of meals in school and learner participation in public primary schools was rejected (P-value 0.001< 0.05) implying a statistical significant relationship between Provision of meals in school and learner participation in public primary schools. The study concluded there were significant association between provision of meals in school and learner participation in Makueni county public primary schools.  The study recommends that Government Ministries of Education, Health and relevant Authorities, Head Teachers, Teachers, Chairpersons -BOM need to provide meals to schools and dedicate adequate resources to sustain learner participation in Public Primary Schools in Makueni County, Kenya. Further, this study on regular Provision of meals in school days and learner participation in public primary schools focused on Makueni county public primary schools only.  A similar designed study targeting more other counties across the country should be conducted. Key words: School feeding programme, learner participation, community engagement, provision of meals, project intervention