Influence of School Feeding Programs on Students’ participation in Sports Activities in Ilala District Council, Tanzania (Published)
This study investigated the influence of school feeding programs on students’ sports activities in Ilala District. It was conducted to examine primary school pupils’ participation in sports before the introduction of feeding programs, to determine the relationship between school feeding programs and pupils’ participation in sports in primary schools, and to highlight improvements in students’ participation in sports activities after the introduction of school feeding programs in primary schools in Ilala District. The study employed a convergent research design under a mixed research approach. A sample of 168 respondents, including head teachers, sports teachers, and pupils purposefully chosen from selected primary schools in Ilala District were involved in the study. Data were gathered by using questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions. The quantitative data were analysed by using descriptive statistics with the help of SPSS version 25 while the qualitative data were analysed thematically. The results showed that the school feeding programs enhance students’ physical fitness for sports activities. It was revealed that, before the introduction of the feeding programs, students’ participation in sports was low as many of them were inactive and others found it difficult to participate due to the lack of food in their schools. Moreover, it was found that the introduction of feeding programs had positively changed students’ attitudes towards sports and improved their health and participation in sports. The study recommends that the authorities responsible for education have to make every possible effort to sustain and expand the feeding programs and establish special committees for effective management and monitoring to ensure that children get food in schools on a continuous basis.
Keywords: Physical activity, physical health, school feeding program, sports activities