Impact of nutrition on students’ achievements: Evidence from Sub-Saharan African Countries

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of school canteen nutrition on the academic performance of students in sub-Saharan Africa using data from the PASEC-2019 survey. Employing propensity score matching, we found a significant positive effect of school canteens on students' math and reading scores. Specifically, the impact was estimated at 20.46 points for mathematics and 25.49 points for reading. The effect varied by gender, with girls showing slightly greater improvements: an average increase of 21.46 points in mathematics and 27.10 points in reading, compared to 19.91 and 25.33 points for boys, respectively. However, disparities were observed between countries, with some showing significant impacts while others did not. This comparative analysis underscores the role of school canteens as a crucial factor in enhancing educational outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.