2026 IJRSE – Volume 15 Issue 20
Available Online: 20 September 2026
Author/s:
Mabula, Pili*
St. Augustine University of Tanzania, Tanzania (mabulapili@gmail.com)
Mkulu, Demetria
St. Augustine University of Tanzania, Tanzania
Tangi, Felista
St. Augustine University of Tanzania, Tanzania
Abstract:
The school feeding program (SFP) is an important aspect of improving students’ learning outcomes. However, the contribution of SFP on enhancing students’ learning in public secondary schools in Misungwi District, Tanzania, is currently not known. This study aimed to identify the contribution of SFP on enhancing students’ learning in public secondary schools in Misungwi District-Tanzania. The study was guided by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, founded by the theorist Abraham Maslow in 1943. A mixed research approach and a convergent parallel design were employed. A sample size of 196 selected from 8829 target population was used where probability and non-probability sampling techniques were employed to select participants. Questionnaires and Interview guides were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The validity of the research instruments were checked by different research expertise while the reliability of the research instruments was checked using split-half technique where the correlation coefficient was 0.73. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics with the help of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23 while Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results also indicated that SFP contributes to reduced students’ truancy and drop-out, enhanced students’ academic performance, and increases students concentration in the learning process. In conclusion, SFP is crucial in schools because it supports the educational journey of students, nurtures broader social growth, and contributes to their academic success. The study recommended that continued government through Ministry of Education Science and Technology support for financial policies and guidelines is required for effective SFP implementation and the provision of quality education.
Keywords: school feeding, feeding program, learning, public secondary schools
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26409
Cite this article:
Mabula, P., Mkulu, D., & Tangi, F. (2026). Contribution of the school feeding program on enhancing students’ learning in public secondary schools in Misungwi District, Tanzania. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 15(20), 189-199. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2026.26409
* Corresponding Author