Assessment of Challenge and Prospect of School Feeding in the Government Primary School of Addis Ababa: the case of Kirkos Sub-city
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study was conducted in Kirkos sub city in three schools, namely Beherawi, Felege Yordanos
and Temenja Yazi Primary Schools. To conduct this study Key informant interview, FGD,
personal observations were held and questionnaire (for stakeholders) were distributed to collect
data. In these schools, before the first official school feeding was started by Yeenat Weg, there
was a fragmented school feeding by individuals, teachers and NGOs and community with small
coverage. After the SFP started, students in sever condition were selected and start eating. In the
2018/19 academic year the government of Addis Ababa has started school feeding in all Addis
Ababa government Primary Schools. This SFP some mitigate hunger in children who were
coming to school with empty lunch box and stomach. Now, most students reported improbable to
feed at school. The food is prepared based on the menu which is prepared by Addis Ababa City
Administration Education Bureau. The food is enough to fill the children’s stomach. Although
the type of food which children’s eat varies from Monday to Friday, it does not include food such
as milk, fruit and other nutritional foods. Unregistered Students as beneficiary go to the feeding
place to ask for food and the feeders give food without stigma. Beneficiary students do not have
different feelings. Most of the time students eat by sharing. From the findings, many challenges
were stated like lack of awareness in particular by the private sector, financial constraints, the
allocation of money to feed one child does not consider the current market situation, physical
capital : unavailability of feeding materials, feeding hall, electric power cut-off, lack of water,
policy related challenges: no clear policy about administration of tax and payments for the poor
women cookers, the participation of stakeholders is insignificant compared with the need of
needy students. Feeder women recruitment is not clear. Especially the government sponsored SF
started spontaneously without adequate plan and preparation. Even though there are many
threats that hinder school feeding students are very happy, they do not have hesitation for the
termination of SF. Concerning the body that run the school feeding the collaboration of all
stakeholders are necessary since SF is costly and the management process of SF is also very
difficult. Respondents also said that SF can develop dependency unless it is deployed with great
care. School feeding needs the collaboration of all stakeholders, and clear policy. So well
designed policy should be in place with the integration of higher education institutions. SF also
lack promotional work. The MoE should coordinate with other stakeholders to achieve the
intended result in the education and nutrition sectors.