IMPACT OF SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME ON PUPILS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN LOWER BASIC SCHOOLS IN MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE

Abstract This study investigated the impact of School Feeding Programme (SFP) on pupils'academic performance in Lower Basic Schools in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. Four research questions guided the study and four hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population comprised 906teachers from 65 public primary schools in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. The sample size was 260 respondents selected out 906 teachers in 65 public lower basic schools. The study employed using purposive and accidental sampling techniques.The instrument for data collection was through a self-developed questionnaire titled "Impact of School Feeding Programme on Pupils' Academic Performance Questionnaire (ISFPPAQ)”structured on a four point rating scale. The instrument was validated by two experts in Educational Management in Department of Educational Foundations,Faculty of Education,Benue State University,Makurdi. Data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions and the statistics of chi-Square test of goodness of fit was used to test the hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that School feeding programme has a positive significant impact on pupils' school attendance, pupils' enrolment, pupils' retention and on control of pupils' hunger in Lower Basic Schools. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that government should employ nutritionists so that adequate knowledge on the amount required for pupils per day so that children have a balanced diet food in schools. Also, Government should sustain the School Feeding programme so that children out school will be motivated or attract to school.