Impact of School Feeding Programme on Access to Basic Education: The Case of South Tongu District of the Volta Region, Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the impact of the school feeding programme on access to basic education in the South Tongu district in the Volta Region, Ghana. A convergent parallel mixed method research design was employed to conduct the study. Stratified random sampling and purposive sampling procedures were used to select 213 respondents for the study. Questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussion were used to collect the data for the study. Data gathered through questionnaires was analysed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies while interview data analysis was done using the thematic approach. The results of the study showed that the school feeding programme has a significant impact on increased enrolment, attendance and retention of pupils in the South Tongu district. However, the implementation of the programme has put pressure on teaching and learning materials as well as increased teacher-pupil ratio. The study recommended that plans and measures should be put in place by the government, implementation ministries and agencies on how to increase existing human, physical and financial resources for the school feeding programme to be sustained.