Effect of National Homegrown School Feeding Programme on Enrolment and Abscondment of Pupils in Primary Schools in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State

Abstract

Various programmes were implemented in Nigeria vis-a-vis Bauchi State with a view to improve  enrolment into primary schools. However, the record shows that in 2019, the number of children  who were outside the school system in Nigeria, rose from 10.5 million in 2015 to 13.2 million, with  Bauchi State having the highest number of out-of-school children of 1.1 million. Therefore, this  study assessed the effect of the national homegrown feeding programme on enrolment and  abscondment of pupils in primary in Shira LGA of Bauchi State; with a specific focus on enrolment  and retention of pupils of primary schools. The study adopted a survey method, data were gathered  from both the primary and secondary sources include the reports of the United Nation International  Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), National Demographic and Education Survey, Journals,  Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board among others. The instrument used in gathering  primary data includes questionnaire and interview. The study revealed that the implementation of  a national homegrown school feeding programme has significantly increased enrolment into  primary schools in Shira LGA of Bauchi State. Similarly, there was reduction in abscondment of  pupils from primary schools in Shira LGA as a result of the implementation of a national  homegrown school feeding programme in the study area. Therefore, the study recommended that  the Federal Government should continue with the implementation of the national home programme  to sustain the level of improvement recorded on enrolment of pupils in primary schools and  reduction in abscondment of pupils from primary schools as a result of the implementation of the  national home-grown feeding programme.