Assessment of the 2014 Pilot Sokoto State Schools Feeding Programme vis-à-vis Pupils’ Interest to Enrol in School and their Aspiration to Complete Basic Education

This study ascertained if there was any difference in interest to enrol in school and to complete basic education between pupils on the Sokoto State pilot feeding programme and those not on the programme. Ten schools were selected for the study and school interest and aspiration questionnaire (reliability .74) was used to collect data from 381 proportionately selected respondents from a population of 56,339. Chi-square test was used to analyse the collected data. Findings from the study revealed that there was a significant difference in the interest to enrol in school – χ2 (35, N = 381) = 230.67, p = .00), and the aspiration to complete basic education – χ2 (33, N = 381) = 269.39, p = .00), between pupils on the Sokoto State pilot schools feeding programme and those not on the programme. The study found that the pupils on the pilot programme had higher interest to enrol in school and higher aspiration to complete basic education than those not on the programme. It was therefore concluded that the pilot school feeding programme has proven to be an effective tool in increasing the enrolment of pupils and improving their aspiration to complete basic education The study recommends that the programme be implemented in all primary schools in the state and that sensitization of parents on the need to enrol and retain their children at school should be a periodic and continuous process.