THE World Bank has reported that the average attendance of 64 hinterland schools has increased by 4.3 per cent.

This is according to a press release from the Education Ministry which stated also that the increase was seen mostly in hinterland schools where the school feeding programme has been implemented.
The 2010 Survey Report and Impact Assessment prepared by the bank covered the period 2007 to 2009, and were conducted at schools in Regions 1 and 7.

The report noted that no significant impact of the school feeding programme on academic performance was found, but pointed out that improvement in performance will take time to achieve.

It stated 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 programme coincided with a period of uncertainty and high volatility in food and agricultural commodities’ prices.

A daily meal to children in poor households represents a safety net 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 diet of rural and Amerindian communities often lacks diversity. In poor and Amerindian communities, diets are low in vegetables, fruits, dairy products and legumes.

The report noted that 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 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, contending that an expansion can also bring about a safety net mechanism to regions and communities facing hardship.

The hinterland school feeding programme is part of a national $1B 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, and provide them a better opportunity to complete school, receive a sound education and make a meaningful contribution to society.