Examining the role of school feeding programme in promoting quality education in the basic schools in the Bawku West District of Upper East Region

Abstract

The School Feeding Programme was meant to provide pupils in the public basic schools with one hot nutritious meal per day. The aims of the programme included reduction of hunger and malnutrition, increase school enrolment, attendance and retention among others. The study therefore sought to examine the role of school feeding programme in promoting quality of education at the basic level of education in the Bawku West District. Using 15 schools in the Bawku West District, the study adopted the mixed method approach relying mainly on questionnaires, interview schedule and documents content analysis for data collection. Descriptive statistics were the method used in analysing the quantitative data gathered, while interview and content analysis were used in analyzing the qualitative data. The study found out the School Feeding Programme has strong impact among other variables on school enrolment, attendance and retention which confirm earlier studies by different scholars. The study recommended the increase in infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of students/pupils in the SFP schools as well as gives it legal backing in its operation.