The Effect of Nutrition on Children's Performance in Number Work Activity in Moiben Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

The school nutritional programme is popular in Kenya. It is an important instrument for improving the nutritional needs of the pre-school children in line with the Millennium Development Goals and Education for All. The study sought to determine the effect of nutrition on performance of children in number work activities in pre-schools in Moiben Constituency Uasin Gishu County. Based on the study, this paper examines the effect of nutrition on children's performance in number work activity in Moiben Constituency. This study employed a quasi-experimental research design with both qualitative and quantitative design. The sample size comprised 6 head teachers, 18 teachers 60 pre-school parents and 180 children of public pre-schools from Moiben Constituency. The primary data were collected by way of questionnaires and interviews. Questionaires were administered to teachers who filled them appropriately. Interview schedules were organised for the head teachers and the parents who were interviewed during pick up times. The schools used in the study were categorised as the experimental and non-experimental schools. The teachers who were all qualified in both categories of schools were given a topic on number work activity to teach the children over a period of three weeks. A specially designed number work test was set and administered to the pupils. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study established that the main types of food given to the children were: porridge, boiled maize and beans and vegetables. it was found out that the provision of nutrition programme improved the overall performance of the children in number work. The parents attested that school nutrition programme effectively improved performance of the children in number work, of which 100% of the parents agreed that indeed school nutrition programme improved number work. The study concluded that the school feeding programme had helped to improve the performance of the pupils in number work as a result of daily attendance of school by children. The study recommended that the school feeding programmes be implemented in all schools in Moiben Constituency.