Abstract
School Feeding Programmes (SFP) were created for the purpose of eradicating hunger, supporting education, health and development. Although SFP is offered in Kenya, approximately 55% of children in do not go to school. According to CBS, roughly 50% of ECDE children do not attend school in Turkana Central Constituency. Therefore, the introduction of SFP in schools was envisioned to improve enrolment in schools. This study sought to establish the influence of SFP on children enrolment in early childhood education centres in Turkana Central Sub-County, Kenya. The specific objective was to determine the influence of the balanced diet on student enrolment in ECE centres in Turkana Central Sub County, Kenya. The study was based on program. The study used a mixed research method. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The target population was 250 schools, 78 teachers and headteachers and 5,000 parents in pre-schools in Turkana Central Sub County. The study used purposive sampling to select respondents. The sample size of the study was 150 schools, 60 teachers and headteachers and 357 parents. Primary data was gathered by the use of questionnaires and interview guides. Secondary data consisted of report forms of pre-schoolers. Quantitative information was analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. Multiple regression was done to analyse the influence of SFPs on children enrolment in ECDE centres the county. The study found that a balanced diet positively relates to children enrolment in ECE centres in Turkana Central Sub County. The study therefore recommends the government to increase food supply to ensure adequacy. There is a need to continue the supply of balanced diet to children because it improves their growth and learning. Some of the children are from very poor families and during school holidays they suffer because of lack of food; the study, therefore, recommends orphans, poor and disabled to be fed even during holidays.
Highlights
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO, 2012) statistics showed that 923 million people globally suffer from hungry; this is a rise of 75 million persons from estimates done from 2009 to 2010
The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of School feeding programmes (SFP) on children enrolment in ECE centres in Turkana Central Sub County, Turkana County, Kenya
Teachers disagreed that the students are provided with fruits twice a week which are essential for normal growth (M = 1.0714). These findings suggest that schools in Turkana Central Sub County are provided with food of required protein standard and micronutrients and these allow them to serve their pupils with natural healthy foods such as rice, maize and beans
Summary
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO, 2012) statistics showed that 923 million people globally suffer from hungry; this is a rise of 75 million persons from estimates done from 2009 to 2010. A great number of individuals were children and people in developing nations. This is an implication that Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) linked to alleviation of hunger as well as malnutrition was not achieved in 2015. School feeding programmes (SFP) were introduced in many developing nations as a way to mitigate hunger and it is one of the MDGs. School feeding programme (SFP) is a form of intervention aimed at improving the enrolment and attendance of school-aged children in schools (FAO, 2012). School feeding programmes are essential for children's growth It helps in preventing malnutrition of the children aged between zero to eight years which can be distressing (Birdsall, Levin & Ibrahin, 2005)
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