AN EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF PUPILS’ EATING HABITS ON THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN THE CONTEMPORARY SCHOOL SYSTEM

Abstract

The nexus between academic performance, nutrition and eating habit is globally recognized to the extent that it has inspired various strategies such as ‘school feeding programmes’ in many nations including Nigeria. This correlational study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between the eating habits of primary school pupils and their academic performance, using a survey design. Fifty pupils in two intact classes from two schools in rural areas, formed the sample. Data was collected using interviewer-questionnaire, coupled with naturalistic observation, for the eating habits and their results from the term’s examination done within the same periodin the schools. The data was analyzed using SPSS – 23 to determine the correlation coefficients. The results suggest that there is strong relationship between pupils’ eating habits, in terms of frequency of feeding, quality of feeding pattern, and quality of breakfast and their academic performance. In addition, the pupils perceived that eating light breakfast enhances their attention span to learn unlike, skipping of breakfast and eating heavy breakfast. The results of this study provide empirical evidence which can be used to encourage parents in rural areas to provide adequate nutrition for their wards/children to enhance their performance in school as recommended in this paper.