One of the problems within our education system has been the relatively low school attendance in the hinterland communities; however, our Ministry of Education, cognisant of this reality has been working assiduously, in coordination with other agencies, to improve the situation. The problem though is not restricted to Guyana as many countries face serious challenges with respect to low levels of school attendance.  The UN has noted that universal primary education, the second Millennium Development Goal (MDG), is crucial to the achievement of an increase in living standards throughout the developing world. Today, at the midpoint between the adoption of the MDGs and the 2015 target date, many countries have already reached the goal of universal primary education but in many other countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, primary and secondary school attendance rates continue to be low.
According to the latest enrolment statistics by UNESCO, 72 million children of primary school age were out of school in 2005 (United Nations 2007). A study by UNESCO and UNICEF shows that the number of children out of school is even higher once data on attendance is considered in addition to official enrolment statistics (UNESCO Institute for Statistics 2005). More than two thirds of all children out of school live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. At the same time, millions of children work instead of attending school. The latest global report on child labour from the International Labour Organization (2006) states that 218 million children between 5 and 17 years – 14 percent of all children in that age group – were engaged in child labour in 2004. 126 million of these children were engaged in hazardous work that endangers the child’s safety, health, and moral development.
It was recognised by the government that the attendance problem was linked to poverty factors such as child labour, nutrition, clothing and transportation problems. Consequently, the government through the Ministries of Education and Amerindian Affairs introduced a school-feeding and uniform assistance programme and this undoubtedly has brought positive results.
THE World Bank has reported that the average attendance of 64 hinterland schools has increased by 4.3 per cent.
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.
What needs to be recognised here is that the survey is not a Government of Guyana one but rather a World Bank one. This point should be noted because there are some, in their calculated attempts to malign the government, would want to contend that the facts and figures are not accurate and have been doctored to create a positive result. However, in this instance they will have to point their usual skepticism to the World Bank.
Nevertheless, the 4.3 % increase in school attendance is significant and is testimony to the government’s commitment to improve educational standards and bridge the gap between schools on the coast and in the hinterland.

What is also significant is that 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 hardships.
So the school-feeding programme has  impacted positively not only on school attendance, but it has also brought substantial benefits in relation to nutrition and financial returns.