School Feeding Program: An Assessment of its Effects on Students Attendance and Academic Performance in Emilia Ambalada Poblete National High School SY 2018-2019

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Food is one of the basic needs of every person. In reality, food is one common problem in our community. In many places, almost every Filipinos are suffering from hunger and starving to death. Thus, this affects our children and their growth. In different studies made in the Philippines regarding malnutrition, there are about millions of malnourished children all over the country. These calls for a program that will help support these kinds of children.

METHODS

This study employed mixed methods research. Quantitative surveys of program beneficiary students and their parents. The information from these surveys were supplemented with information obtained through structured interviews of class advisers. Focus group discussions were conducted to probe into program features or processes that appear to have had considerable effect on whether a school attained the program objectives or not. In the analysis of data, this study utilized Pearson's correlation coefficient. It is the test statistics that measures the statistical relationship, or association, between two continuous variables.

RESULTS

The result shows that the average grade of the students on the first quarter is 79.91 with a standard deviation (SD) of 4.43. On the other hand, the second quarter grades of the students on the average is 79.00 with an SD of 4.83. Lastly, the mean grades of the same students on the third quarter is 79.58 with an SD of 4.41. Moreover, in terms of attendance, the result shows that the average attendance rate of the students on the first quarter is 0.88 with an SD of 0.16. On the other hand, the second quarter attendance rate of the students on the average is 0.81 with an SD of 0.14. Lastly, the mean attendance rate of the same students on the third quarter is 0.78with an SD of 0.16. Therefore, the third quarter grades have been significantly affected by the school feeding program (attendance). It is supported by the p-value of 0.0006. The strength of impact is positive yet moderate as indicated by the Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.6473.

DISCUSSIONS

Feeding program is the most outreached solution we could offer to our students as part of the community. Through feeding programs, it help decrease the incidence of malnourishment and dropped out students whose main reason is lack in financial aspects that lead them not to attend the class. We believe that every person needs to be physically fit and healthy, thus, mentally upright for them to function properly in our society particularly in the school.