Do Students' Academic Performance and Participation Get Better through School Feeding in Ethiopia?

According to the Ethiopia Ministry of Education (2015), school feeding initiatives, such as feeding children in food insecure conditions, providing educational resources, and school meals are essential for supporting access to general education. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of school feeding program on the academic performance and class participation of Grade 8 students in the primary public schools in Gulele sub city, Ethiopia. A quantitative research method with a quasi-experimental design was used in conducting the study. From Grade 8, two hundred students were selected by using purposive sampling technique. From five out of ten Woredas, the sample primary schools with Grade 8 were selected. Standardized Attentions Check List and the roster cards were used to solicit the primary and secondary sources of data. Difference in Difference linear regression and Independent Sample t- test were applied for analyzing academic achievement, attendance and attention data respectively. Result of data analysis indicated the positive effect of school feeding program on academic achievement and attendance of Grade 8 students. The school feeding also has an effect on the students' attention span. Providing for greater financing and more coverage for the school-feeding program at country level is recommended.