Assessing the Educational Effect, Student Perceptions, and Satisfaction with School Feeding Programs in Addis Ababa's Public Primary Schools

Across the globe governments have been implementing school feeding programs (SFPs) aimingat enhancing students’ health and educational outcomes. This study examined the effect of thegovernment funded school feeding program on educational outcomes in Addis Ababa's publicprimary schools. Using an Interrupted Time Series design and a cross-sectional survey design,the research examined changes in enrollment, dropout rates, and promotion levels, as well asstudents' perceptions and satisfaction with the food provision. Data were collected from schoolrecords and 173 students across 27 schools in five sub-cities. Results have indicated that theSFP significantly improved educational outcomes, including increased enrollment, reduceddropout, and enhanced promotion levels. Moreover, regardless of demographics, more than80% of beneficiary students perceived the program as important, with 87.4% reporting highlevel of satisfaction with the food provision. These findings suggest that SFPs can be aneffective tool for improving educational outcomes in developing countries though potentialadverse consequences such as dependency and sustainability need careful consideration.