Abstract: The research assessed the influence of school feeding programme on pupil retention rates in public primary schools in Rwanda. Specifically, we analysed the implementation of school feeding programme in public primary schools of Bugesera District, evaluated the level of pupil’s retention rate in public primary schools of Bugesera District and determined the influence of school feeding programme on pupil’s retention rate in public primary schools of Bugesera District. The sample size was 375, including 53 Teachers, 54 students, 3 Head teachers. Primary sources were gathered using questionnaires, interviews, and observation methods to triangulate the data. This study used purposive, stratified, and simple random sampling methods to derive a sample population from the respondents. The study applied both quantitative and qualitative methods complementarily in data collection and analysis. Content analysis helped qualitative data analysis, and quantitative data was presented using the statistical package for social sciences by descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlational and regression analysis). For the first objective, results indicated that that 59.3% strongly agreed that The school has frequent discussions on the topic of school food in order to identify problems and devise solutions, 58.3% strongly agreed that The school has made a school feeding committee to ensure quality and safety of food before procurement, when receiving, during storage, cooking and serving, 63.7% that There is a follow up of how the suppliers bring foods on time, , 68.9% agreed that The hygiene of room is ensured before pupils are served the meal,55.6% agreed that The teacher’s guide learners to take care of gardens of vegetables in extra curricula activities hours. This indicated there is implementation of school feeding programs. Results on the influence of school feeding programme on pupil’s retention rate in public primary schools of Bugesera District indicated that most measures were positively associated with each other. Since the degree of significance was less than 0.05, in conclusion, the study shows that most commonly, school activities such as Food and timing of meal, Food quality and quantity as well as Food nutritional value have the same attitude on pupils’ retention rate in public primary schools in Rwanda. The research revealed Increased promotion, High completion rate for both girls and boys as well as High rate of Attractiveness show pupils’ retention rate in public primary schools in Rwanda. Finally, the above factors have a positive association with pupils’ retention rate in public primary schools in Rwanda since the p-value was less than 0.05. Recommended that Rwandan government should provide enough resources and materials to support the implementation of school feeding programme to all school and encourage the parents to be involve in that programme and The school staff teacher and Headteacher must work to gether to help in smooth implementation of this programme by helping the children and help in preparing a well quality and quantinty food and also mut be given training on how to prepare a diet food.
Keywords: Food, Food nutrition, School feeding, student retention.
Title: INFLUENCE OF SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME ON PUPILS RETENTION RATE IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN RWANDA A CASE OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF BUGESERA DISTRICT
Author: CYIZA JOHN LOVE, DR. MUGIRANEZA FAUSTIN
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
Vol. 11, Issue 4, October 2023 - December 2023
Page No: 179-190
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 01-November-2023
