Contribution of Food Provision Strategy Employed By Heads of Public Secondary Schools in Enhancing Students’ Attendance in Sikonge District, Tanzania

This study aimed to investigate the contribution of food provision strategy employed by heads of public secondary schools in enhancing students’ attendance in Sikonge District, Tanzania. A convergent design under a mixed methods approach was used. The target population included 21 secondary schools, 21 heads of schools, 543 teachers, 6418 parents, and 3209 students. A sample of 6 schools, 6 heads of schools, 54 teachers, 321 students, and 12 parents was obtained using probability and non-probability sampling techniques. Heads of schools were sampled through criterion purposive, parents through snowball, teachers and students through stratified random sampling. Data collection instruments included questionnaires for teachers and students, interview guides for heads of schools and parents, and document analysis guides. Validity was ensured by three experts from Educational Planning and Administration. A pilot test in one secondary school involved 40 respondents, who were excluded from the main study. Reliability of questionnaires was tested using Cronbach’s Alpha, yielding .930 for teachers and .747 for students. Trustworthiness of qualitative data was ensured through peer debriefing and triangulation. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 23, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Research ethics, including consent and confidentiality, were observed. Findings revealed that food provision strategy in public secondary schools positively influence students’ attendance and classroom concentration. However, the current strategy remains inadequate. The study concluded that the government should support parents in providing at least one meal daily and educate them on their responsibility in food contribution.