Effect of Home Grown School Feeding Programme on Pupils Enrollment in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State

Abstract

The study examined the effect of home grown school feeding programme on pupils enrollment in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The specific objectives were to examine the effect of Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) on Pupils enrolment, the effect of Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) on  Pupils attendance and  examine the challenges facing the implementation of Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP). A sample size of 358 respondents was used for the study drawn using multi-stage sampling technique and the data collected were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).  The results show across all items, mean scores range from 3.91 to 4.74, exceeding the benchmark of 3.0, which signifies agreement. This indicates a broad consensus among respondents that the programme has significantly improved access to and engagement in schooling. It also reveal a strong consensus that the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) has significantly improved school attendance among primary school pupils. All the items recorded mean scores ranging from 3.99 to 4.56, which are well above the acceptance benchmark, indicating general agreement among respondents on the positive influence of the programme. The results indicates that one major issue identified is poor awareness and sensitization. The findings show that lack of timely awareness (Mean = 4.20) and general community unawareness of programme benefits (Mean = 4.56) are key constraints. This suggests that despite the availability of the programme, insufficient communication reduces its reach and effectiveness. Recent studies support this observation. The results of the paired t-test revealed that the mean enrolment after the introduction of the school feeding programme (M = 3239.15) was higher than the mean enrolment before the programme (M = 2494.62). The mean difference of 744.54 indicates a substantial increase in enrolment.  The study recommends that the Programme has clear benefits, the though its effectiveness is limited by challenges related to awareness, funding, monitoring, logistics, infrastructure, and human resources. Addressing these constraints is essential for optimizing the programme’s impact on educational access and quality through governmental and Non government Organizations, the programme should be extend to other level of education such as some of the pupils that are not benefiting and post primary schools and with the advent of feeding programme there need for the succession government to inbuilt more on the program so as to encourage pupils’ enrolment.