The Impact of the Ghana School Feeding Programme on School Enrolment, Retention and Attendance in the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the impact of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) on school enrolment, retention and attendance in the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The Cross-sectional survey design was employed for the study. The study was carried out in 10 beneficiary and 10 non-beneficiary schools. Data were collected through administration of questionnaire to 73 teachers, interview with 9 head-teachers, 9 caterers and the coordinator of the GSFP in the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal. Secondary data that covered school enrolment and attendance were also obtained from records of the selected beneficiary and non-beneficiary schools. The data collected were analyzed using various descriptive and inferential analysis with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 23 programme. The findings revealed that the GSFP was fairly effective through basic practices. The GSFP practices in the selected schools involved provision of one hot meal daily to pupils in public basic schools, serving nutritious and assorted meals (e.g., rice, beans, vegetables, eggs etc.) and feeding pupils under good sanitary environment. The results also showed that enrolment in all the classes were higher in the beneficiary schools than the non-beneficiary schools. With attendance however, the findings revealed that beneficiary schools had a little higher attendance in all the classes but class 2 with the non-beneficiary schools recorded higher attendance. Further analysis revealed that the difference in both enrolment and attendance between the beneficiary and non-beneficiary schools were not statistically significant. The effectiveness of the GSFP was however found to have significant impact on school enrolment and retention but not on attendance. The study further revealed challenges facing the GSFP including untimely and late release of funds to schools and caterers, the absence of kitchens in some schools for the preparation of food, poor storage facilities in the schools, low level of community involvement in the programme, persistent political interference, poor linkage between farmers and the GSFP and insufficient classrooms and furniture to cope with increased enrolment. The study recommends that the management of the programme ensures adequate and timely release of funds for the GSFP, Provides Storage Facilities and Strengthens the Linkage between Farmers and the GSFP.