Anne Ndidi Meremikwu (PhD); Ibok Ekpenyong Effiong (PhD); Adie Emmanuel Benimpuye; Lovina Inah Idoko; Okri John Arikpo Ph.D. & Catherine Njong Tawo
Abstract
This study examined influence of school feeding programme on academic achievement of primary-3 pupils’ in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Two hypotheses were formulated to direct the study. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. A total sample of 1500 pupils out of 14,910 pupils were selected from 40 primary schools for the study using stratified and simple random sampling procedures 20 from schools who offered food services and 20 from schools who do not offer food services. The study instrument used for data collection was Mathematics achievement test. The reliability index of the instrument determined with Kuder – Richardson K-R-20 formula was .75. The result of the analyzed with independent t-test showed that pupils in schools that offered food services significantly performed better in the mathematics achievement test with 3.86 percentage points higher than those pupils in schools where food service are not offered (p < 0.001). Gender significantly influenced primary 3 pupils’ academic achievement in Mathematics in schools that offered food services (t=18.382; p=0.000). Based on these findings, it was recommended that provision of food services should be extended to all schools, both private and public in order for children to pay more attention be more attentive to learning and improve their ability to concentrate in school.