2024
Language:
English

School Feeding Programs and Student Attendance: A Case Study of Rural Schools in Mukono

This research delved into examining the impact of school feeding programs on student attendance in rural primary schools located in Mukono District, Uganda. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from a stratified random sample of 380 respondents including teachers, administrators, and students selected from rural public schools in the region. Access to education in impoverished rural areas continues to be challenged by issues such as poverty, food insecurity, and lack of adequate nutrition, highlighting the importance of school feeding programs in alleviating such barriers to consistent school participation. Regression analyses unearthed that schools implementing feeding programs reported an average 32% higher attendance rate compared to institutions without such initiatives. Additionally, the frequency of provision saw a positive 20% increase in attendance for each additional meal supplied weekly, while nutritional quality saw an associated 28% boost for every unit increase on a 5-point scale. Parental education, household income, and infrastructure quality also demonstrated smaller impacts on participation rates. These findings suggest that to maximize benefits, feeding programs must provide regular, nutritious meals to optimally motivate regular student attendance, especially for vulnerable populations in underprivileged rural locales grappling with high levels of poverty and limited access to resources. With education being integral to national advancement, continued efforts to sustainably scale such beneficial interventions through collaborative community and stakeholder support are undoubtedly crucial.