Food Sold in and Around the School: Is it Worth the Students’ Pocket money?

Faiza Mahreen, Abdul Basit, Fazalur Rahman, Dr Muhammad Ajmal, Shaheen Ashraf Tahirkheli, Prof Dr Nabi Bux Jumani

Abstract
The study aimed to identify students’ and teachers’ perceptions about food items sold in and around schools during school hours/recess in terms of quality and quantity of food, services rendered to students, and prices of food items. Data were gathered through the use of two different questionnaires for students and teachers and separate semi-structured focus group discussions with female and male teachers thus giving a qualitative touch to the quantitative data. The sample comprised of students and teachers of five government high/higher secondary schools for boys and girls each. 30 students and ten teachers were randomly selected from these schools.It was found that girl students got comparatively less pocket money than boy students. Girls bought food items more often than boys. Also savings of girl students were less than boy students on average. The students considered that dishes and spoons etc were not properly washed. Girls were found to be at a disadvantage as compared to boys as they were not allowed out of school during recess. The study recommended cleanliness of food items and utensils; and availability of clean drinking water in schools. The study also recommended quality control committee at school level.

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