ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM ON STUDENTS’ ENROLLMENT AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: THE CASE OF KOLFE KERANYO SUB-CITY IN ADDIS ABABA.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the role of school feeding program on students’ enrollment and academic performance in the case of kolfe keranyo sub-city government primary schools from (2020-2021). This study mainly employed quantitative data. To address the research objective 335 sampled respondents were selected. A non- probability sampling technique in the form of judgmental sampling technique is employed in selecting the four schools. For the selection of sample teachers and school parents’ non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to get persons from different schools that can better provide information about school feeding. For the purpose of this research, 117 teachers were considered to be the representative samples. The other samples for the research were school parents. Accordingly, 175 parents were selected purposely with the intention of obtaining the persons that can provide more information about school feeding. 335 questioners were distributed; from which 292(87.2%) sample respondents replied appropriately to the questionnaire. Data gathered were analyzed based on these 292 responses with the help of SPSS 24 software package. Descriptive statistics research design was employed. All outputs were reported using frequency, percentage and mean results. From the analysis of this data, 28 key variables were identified and defined across four categories: assessment of Ethiopian school feeding program, levels of enrolment before and after the commencement of the SFPs, the effects of SFP on students’ academic performance and challenges of school feeding programs. The main finding of the study is that school feeding program has positive effect on students’ academic achievement. The findings of the study also showed that an increase in school enrolment and academic performance have achieved due to SFPs. The study recommended that the government through MoE should expand and improve school infrastructure and encouraged parents to build the culture of contributing for proper implementation of the SFPs. The study also recommends that all stakeholders working on School Feeding Program need to work cooperatively to enhance the program effectiveness.