Effects of COVID-19 imposed school closure on school feeding program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Abstract

The school feeding program in government schools in Addis Ababa was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed a qualitative research to explore the effects of the interruption on students' well-being. The study participants were recruited from seven primary schools within six sub-cities of Addis Ababa using convenience sampling. Fifty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with students, parents, teachers, school principals, and school feeding agency officials. Thematic analysis was then conducted. The study found that the school feeding program has indeed improved school attendance and in class concentration; helped decrease lateness and dropout; reduced child labour and abuse; and taken off parent's burden. The interruption of the program has dire consequences on students' well-being, and their parents. Some effects this study finds troubling are: food shortage; skipping meals; eating poor quality food; eating reduced portion size; and children being subject to child abuse and child labour for menial activities. Effective use of available resources through existing channels, such as the food banks and the urban safety net program, and encouraging innovative ideas, including the ‘Each One Feed One’ initiative, would help vulnerable children and families survive during the pandemic.