An appraisal of the sustainability of the food for education programme in Bahi District primary schools, Dodoma Region

This study examined the sustainability of the Food for Education (FFE) Programme in Bahi district primary schools. Four objectives guided the study in exploring the sustainability of the FFE programme in Bahi district primary schools. These are the current status of the FFE programme in primary schools; strategies employed by the government, WFP and school food management to ensure the sustainability of FFE; the impact of the FFE in pupil’s enrolment, attendance and school performance; and the challenges facing the FFE in Bahi district. The data of the study were collected from four primary schools and with sample size constituting 146 respondents through interviews, Focus group discussion, questionnaires, documentary search and observations. The data collected were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings reveal that the food provided to primary school pupils was adequate. In addition, facilities such as dining halls were found wanting. Also, the sustainability of FFE was not guaranteed since the community in the vicinity was not fully involved in planning and implementing the programme. Generally, the FFE was viewed as having the strength of having a positive impact on the pupils’ academic performance, enrolment, health, and attendance, but it has faced the disadvantages of poor management and little participation of the government and community at large. Such an anomaly has affected the sustainability of the FFE programme. The study concludes that, for the FFE programme to be sustainable all education stakeholders must be fully involved in all stages of programme’s implementation. The study, therefore, recommends that the government provide grants to the area where there is food shortage. It should also formulate an appropriate a policy and promote the practicing of home grown school feeding in addition to promoting co-operation among the ministries of agriculture, health and education as well as the community. Researchers are also encouraged to conduct similar studies in other areas for wider contextualization of the FFE programme and the attendant problems.