The impact and challenges of school feeding programme in enhancing access to primary education in the unplanned settlements of Kibera in Nairobi

Abstract

This purpose of this study was meant to analyze the importance and effects of school feeding programme on access to primary education among the socio-economically and nutritionally vulnerable children in unplanned settlement of Kibera. The study strove to help education managers to understand the problems and challenges that have, for long time, kept a large number of children out of school despite the abolition of all levies in primary schools in 2003. It is envisaged that appropriate mitigation measures be formulated to address the expansion of the School Feeding Programme ( SFP) to other schools which are not in the programme for the benefit of the Kenyan child. The socio-economic setting of the population living in the unplanned settlements was amplified to draw the attention of the policy makers in Kenya, to develop appropriate intervention measures that were geared towards addressing the plight of these groups of people, who constitute a significant percentage living below the poverty level who earns less than a dollar a day. It was further shown in study that real economic development for the country can only be realized when the challenges facing this population in the informal settlement are addressed through education and other interventions. Over ninety five percentage of the population in the unplanned settlements live in absolute poverty where to afford three square meals a day is a major challenge to the households. Information on the study was gathered through questionnaires and observation schedules from the school head teachers, School Feeding Programme teachers, area educational advisors, and children enrolled in these schools. It is hoped that the information gathered was to form the basis of future policy decision making in addressing the challenges of access in these informal settlements.