School Feeding Program Implementation and Pupil’s Retention in Primary Schools in Akura Sub -County Alebtong District, Uganda
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Date
2026
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Gulu University
Abstract
This study examined the connection between the introduction of school food programs and the retention rate of pupils in primary schools in Akura Sub County in Alebtong District. The study was guided by the following specific objectives namely; to assess the level of school feeding programme implementation in primary schools; to determine pupil’s retention rate in primary schools and to establish the relationship between school feeding programme implementation and pupil’s retention rate in primary schools in Akura Sub County Alebtong District. The study adopted a mixed method approach and convergent mixed method design. Data was collected using questionnaires and interviews from a sample of 469 respondents and participants respectively (8 head teachers, 169 teachers, 260 pupils, 14 PTA and 16 SMC Executives). Quantitative data was sorted, coded and entered in SPSS version 25.0 and data was analyzed at descriptive and inferential statistical levels while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings for research question one revealed a high level of school feeding programme implementation in primary schools in Akura Sub County
Alebtong District (M= 4.15 SD=0.61). This high level of implementations was attributed to the establishment of clear guidelines, the formation of school feeding committee, active community mobilization, and adequate budget allocation. Results for the second research question likewise showed that Akura Sub -County Alebtong District's primary schools had a good pupil’s retention rate (M=4.4 SD=0.51) and Findings for research question three revealed a strong positive significant relationship between school feeding programme implementation and pupil’s retention rate in primary schools in Akura Sub County Alebtong District (r=0.82 p<0.01). The study concluded that school feeding programme
implementation significantly enhanced pupil’s retention rates in primary schools and it was recommended that government should design a policy to make school feeding compulsory in all primary schools