Assessing The Influence Of School Meals On Students’ Attendance In Community Secondary Schools: The Case Of Korogwe District

ABSTRACT

This study was directed toward assessing the influence of school meals on students‟ attendance in community secondary schools. It was conducted in Korogwe District, Tanga region in Tanzania. Specifically, the study sought to explore the influence of school meals on students attendance presented in Korogwe District, to examine the attitude of parents toward contributing to school meals and identifying challenges facing provision of school meals provision in Korogwe District. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approach to get depth data. In this study the researcher adopted both non-probability sampling techniques and probability sampling techniques. Purposive sampling technique was employed to obtain the sample of the heads of school while Simple random technique was employed to obtain representative sample for the parents, teachers and students. The main instruments used for the data collection were questionnaires, interviews, observation, Focus group discussion (FGD) and documentary review. The qualitative data collected through interview and questionnaire were analyzed using a structural functional content analysis, and descriptive statistics was used to provide frequency and percentage of the quantitative data. The study findings revealed that in all schools within the study area, meals were provided and they were shown to have positive impact on students toward school attendance. Also it was revealed that the meal programme at school was supported positively by the parents. Furthermore, the study reported some challenges on the school meal provisions which include poor contribution of the items agreed upon such as maize and beans, also parents‟ low income was another problem reported in the study area. Measures suggested to overcome the above challenges are such as the support from the government, similarly, schools should engage effectively in shamba activities. Education toward meals provision in schools is very important to the society in general. It is recommended that enhanced food security at the household level would imply an increase in capacity by the parents communities) to continue supporting the SFP.