Implementation of School-Based Feeding in Selected Elementary Schools in The Division of Lipa City: Basis for Action Plan

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Before making conclusions about a program's effectiveness, there is a need of better and deeper understanding on how the program is conducted. There is a difference between what is planned at the national level and what actually happens at the school level. The school principals have the authority, accountability and responsibility to offer educational programs which provided equitable opportunities for all pupils in the school. Thus, they know the implementation process of the Department of Education programs. However, there seems to be a need to evaluate the actions and strategies that the school principals and teachers initiated to assess the level of effectiveness of the Department of Education programs.

METHODS

The study was conducted in a public elementary school located at the Division of Lipa City. The study started on February 2018 and ended last June 2018. The researcher employed the descriptive method to achieve the objectives of the study. The researcher used the survey questionnaire as the main tool for data gathering. Questionnaires were used based on the following reasons: it ensured a high response rate as the questionnaires were distributed to the respondents to complete and were collected personally by the researcher; it required less time and energy to administer; there is less opportunity for bias as they were presented in a consistent manner; and most of the items in the questionnaires were closed, which made it easier to compare the responses to each item.

RESULTS

Lack of standard weighing protocols and/or weighing equipment among implementing schools resulted in inaccurate weight and height measurements. This led to misclassified nutrition status of the children both in the pre-feeding and post-feeding stages. Furthermore, data on the number of severely wasted children for the past school year rather than current data were used for budget allocation purposes. This may lead to serious underestimation of required resources for feeding the beneficiaries.

DISCUSSIONS

Monitoring and follow up of the programs implemented is the best way of seeing how the programs actually happened. If the school principals regularly follow up on the status of the program, the teachers will continue the step by step procedures on how to implement the program well. Regular conferences between the teachers and also to the pupils should be conducted to see what will be the strengths and weaknesses of the program and identify what interventions should be done.