2012年-世界发展银行全球_Guyanas_Hinterland_and_Community-Based_School_Feeding_Programme_133页_3mb

报告摘要

Summary of Guyana's Hinterland Community-Based School Feeding Programme Impact Evaluation (2007-2009)

Core Content

The Guyana's Hinterland Community-Based School Feeding Programme (SFP), initiated in 2007, aimed to improve community participation in schools, enhance student enrollment and attendance, and improve nutritional and academic outcomes for primary school children in Regions 1, 7, 8, and 9. The program was part of the Education for All - Fast Track Initiative (EFA-FTI), supported by the World Bank, and focused on using locally produced foods to ensure nutritious meals for students. The evaluation, conducted over three rounds (2007, 2008, 2009), included survey data from students, teachers, parents, and communities.

The program required schools and communities to submit project proposals, undergo training in financial bookkeeping, food hygiene, and meal preparation, and ensure school kitchens met health and safety standards. Despite efforts to randomize treatment and control groups, the self-selection process introduced sample selection bias, which was corrected using sample selection correction methods.

Main Findings

Enrollment and Attendance

Total enrollment increased by 338 students over three years.
53% of this increase can be attributed to the SFP.
The treatment group saw a 16% increase in enrollment, while the control group experienced a 7.5% decline.
Average attendance improved by 4.3% in treatment schools.

Nutritional Status

Control schools had higher stunting rates, likely due to poorer economic conditions and a higher proportion of Amerindian children.
Students in treatment areas grew 0.8 cm more on average compared to those in control schools.
BMI improvements were observed in the treatment group, with 1.07 to 1.34 standard deviations better than the control group.
Diet diversity and food frequency were preserved in treatment schools, especially during food price shocks.

Academic Performance

Nationally standardized test scores showed improvements in English, math, and social studies for treatment schools.
Propensity Score Matching (PSM) confirmed significant impacts in math and English, but modest effects in social studies.
Reading and Science showed non-significant impacts.

Student Behavior and School Performance

Two-thirds of head teachers and class teachers reported positive behavioral changes in students.
Class participation was higher in treatment schools, and disconnection and distraction were lower.
Absence rates were high across both groups, with over 59% of children absent for at least one day in the two weeks before the survey.
22% of absent students cited labor as a reason, including care of younger siblings, farm work, or domestic duties.
Lack of food was the reason for absence in 22% of students, and all but one of these were from control schools.

Community and Parental Participation

Parents were actively involved in cooking, cleaning, and serving meals, as well as food provision and commercialization.
The program engaged communities and parents in fundraising and improving program quality.
Amerindian communities often have low dietary diversity, but the SFP helped maintain food frequency.

Food Price Shocks and Safety Net

The SFP served as a safety net during food price volatility.
Control areas had lower food consumption before and after the price shocks.
Treatment areas showed less decline in food consumption and better diet diversity.

Sustainability and Recommendations

The sustainability of the SFP is a key concern after external funding ends.
School gardens and home gardens could help reduce costs.
Partnerships with the private sector and using school kitchens during holidays could increase revenue.
The Government of Guyana should consider the educational and nutritional benefits of the SFP, as well as its role in providing a safety net and supporting local farmers.

Key Information

Program duration: 2007-2009
Regions involved: Regions 1, 7, 8, and 9 (hinterland areas)
Total schools: 64 (17 in Region 7, 47 in Region 1)
Survey rounds: 3 (R1, R2, R3)
Impact evaluation methods: Propensity Score Matching (PSM), sample selection correction
Program cost: Relatively low per child compared to other large-scale programs
Main outcomes: Improved enrollment, attendance, nutritional status, and academic performance
Challenges: High absenteeism, labor participation, poverty-related issues, and sustainability concerns

Conclusion

The SFP has shown positive impacts on student enrollment, attendance, and academic performance, as well as improved nutritional status and community engagement. However, the program's long-term sustainability and management of food price shocks remain important challenges that require attention and strategic planning. The findings highlight the potential of school feeding programs to improve educational access and outcomes, especially in remote and impoverished regions.