School Feeding Programme and Academic Performance of Pupils in Public Primary Schools in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

It is unfortunate to observe that each day, millions of children around the globe including Akwa Ibom State go to school on an empty stomach. This is counterproductive because hunger affects concentration and ability to learn, hence, the establishment of school feeding programme with the sole aim of facilitating access to education and increase performance and school attendance. The aim of this study is to examine how school feeding programme affects academic performance of pupils in public primary schools in Akwa Ibom State. The study adopts Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as its theoretical framework. The study employs survey method which involve the administration of questionnaires on 648 respondents from the three (3) Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom State. The study reveals that school feeding programme has actually increased pupils' performance in public primary schools. The study further reveals that the introduction of school feeding has equally increased school enrolment and attendance in public primary schools. On the strength of this, the study recommends that Akwa Ibom State government should ensure timely release of fund to enable the programme run smoothly in the State. Also, the government should ensure that all public primary schools in the State benefit from the programme.