STRATEGIC SCHOOL-BASED FEEDING MANAGEMENT ENHANCES PUPIL PARTICIPATION AND PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS: A GROUNDED FRAMEWORK FOR EDUCATIONAL NUTRITION

Abstract

Childhood undernutrition remains a systemic barrier to educational engagement and academic readiness in rural Philippine public elementary schools. This study appraised the strategic management of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) in Ramon District and evaluated its relationship with Grade 6 pupils' participation and program effectiveness to establish a localized Nutrition Management Framework. Employing a quantitative descriptive-correlational design, data were collected from 120 Grade 6 pupil-beneficiaries and implementation personnel using structured 5-point Likert scale questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, weighted means, and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient () were utilized for analysis. Results revealed a "High" level of overall strategic management (), with planning scoring highest () and resource management lowest (). Pupil participation () and program effectiveness () were evaluated as "High" and "Very High," respectively. Significant positive correlations were established between strategic management and pupil participation (), strategic management and effectiveness (), and participation and effectiveness (). These findings demonstrate that well-managed feeding operations directly bolster student attendance and physical readiness for learning. Consequently, a seven-component Nutrition Management Framework is proposed to optimize resource delivery, feedback integration, and stakeholder partnerships for sustainable educational nutrition.

            Keywords: School-Based Feeding Program, Pupil participation, Program effectiveness, Nutrition management framework, Educational nutrition