Feeding programme boosting hinterland school attendance – World Bank

The World Bank has reported that the average attendance at 64 hinterland schools increased by 4.3 per cent when the school feeding programme was implemented.

According to an Education Ministry release, the 2010 Survey Report and Impact Assessment prepared by the bank covered the period 2007 to 2009, and was conducted at schools in Regions One and Seven.

“Students in treatment schools had higher levels of class participation than those in control schools. Conversely, students’ disconnect and distraction from classroom activities showed a lower incidence in treatment schools,” the report stated. However, the report noted no significant impact of the school feeding programme on academic performance, but pointed out that improved academic performance will take time to achieve.

The report said that community participation in school feeding-related activities has been achieved, as parents actively participated in cooking and serving meals, and in growing and providing food commodities. The school feeding programme coincided with a period of uncertainty and high volatility in the prices of food and agricultural commodities. A daily meal to children in poor households represents a safety mechanism from adverse price shocks. An increase in food prices harms the spending capacity of households, which in turn affects food consumption, nutritional intake, and poverty levels.

The diets of rural and Amerindian communities often lack diversity. In poor and Amerindian communities, diets are low in vegetables, fruits, dairy products and legumes. “The school feeding programme improved diet diversity and frequency of food consumption in treatment communities, as compared to control communities, despite higher food prices. During the food price shocks, the gap in food consumption frequency and diet diversity between control and treatment groups increased substantially. The school feeding programme has thus successfully provided a safety net against food price increases, the report said.

According to the report, the financial returns of the programme can be substantial if it expands considerably; and expansion can also bring about a safety mechanism to regions and communities facing hardship. The hinterland school feeding programme is part of a national Gy$1billion programme geared to improve students’ attendance and performance.

This initiative benefits more than 51,000 learners. It caters for pupils of all nursery schools and those up to Grade Two at the primary level throughout the country. The school feeding programme and the school uniform programme are part of a wider effort by government to improve students’ attendance, build their self-esteem, provide them with a better opportunity to complete school, and receive a sound education.