The Ghana School Feeding Program: Factors Affecting Enrolment of Pupils in Garu-Tempane District, Upper East Region

The socioeconomic situation of the country has prompted policy actions from Government of Ghana since 2005 to start the Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP) to improve enrolment among pupils in public primary schools. The study used a district-level data (2008-2012) to examine socioeconomic factors affecting enrolment of pupils in food insecure district of Garu-Tempane District, Upper East Region. A quasi-experimental design was used in selecting 360 pupils both from participating and non-participating public primary schools with similar socioeconomic characteristics. Frequency, counts, percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistics were used in analyzing the data. Finding shows that the GSFP succeeded in increasing the gross enrolment among participating schools as compared to a decreased in non-participating schools. In addition, PPMC coefficients for socioeconomic variables and enrolment results showed positive and slight significant correlation (p<0.05) with age, AG (r = -0.234) meaning that the higher the age of pupil the less chance for the enrolment of that pupil. The findings have implication for access to primary education particularly Garu-Tempane District. The study therefore recommended that the school feeding programs’ sustainability should be well-targeted not only on the basis of food insecurity but through a more rigorous in-depth socioeconomic survey and vulnerability mapping with a view to scaling-up of the program in food deficit areas to incorporate more schools.