INFLUENCE OF NUTRITION PRACTICES IN NOMADIC COMMUNITIES ON LEARNING OUTCOMES OF LEARNERS IN PUBLIC PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SAMBURU NORTH SUB-COUNTY, SAMBURU COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: To determine the influence of nutrition practices in nomadic lifestyles on learning outcomes of learners in public pre-primary schools in Samburu North Sub-county.
Statement of the Problem: Nutrition practices which are adopted by nomadic communities are crucial in improving learner participation in pre-primary school activities. However, in Samburu North Sub-county, pre-primary school learners from nomadic communities have manifested low learning outcomes in basic numeracy, language and creativity skills.
Methodology: The study adopted a mixed methodology and thus adopted both descriptive survey and phenomenological research designs to address quantitative and qualitative methods respectively. Target population was 9214 respondents comprising 147 headteachers, 100 pre-primary school teachers, 147 parents’ representatives and 8820 pre-primary school learners from which a sample of 384 respondents was calculated using Yamane’s Formula. Stratified sampling was used to create three strata based on the number of zones in Samburu North Sub-county. From each zone, 5headteachers, 5 parents’ representatives and 46 pre-primary school teachers were selected using purposive sampling. However, from each zone, 72 learners were selected using simple random sampling. This realized a sample of 15 headteachers, 15 parents’ representatives, 138 pre-primary school teachers and 216 pre-primary school learners. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically along the objectives and presented thematically in narrative forms. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using frequencies and percentages and inferentially using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Analysis with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Number work (SPSS 23) and presented using tables.
Result: The study found that learning outcomes of learners in public pre-primary schools in nomadic communities in Samburu Sub-county has been low with many of them manifesting poorly-developed basic numeracy and language skills. This is attributed to nutrition practices which are adopted in such communities.
Recommendations: The study recommends that headteachers and the Ministry of Education should continue ensuring that pre-primary school learners are provided with lunches through school-feeding programmes as a way of keeping these learners in school.
Keywords: Nutrition practices, pre-primary school learners, learning outcomes, public pre-primary schools.
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