Review of Literature on Academic

Performance of Naledi Learners

Conducted by CLEAR-AA, for the Impilo Department of Education

9 November, 2017

Background
For over a decade, The Republic of Naledi has been faced with perplexingly high rates of
academic underperformance amongst primary and secondary school learners in the Impilo
province. The Impilo Department of Education has commissioned CLEAR-AA to conduct a
review of existing research, to understand some of the causal factors of poor student
performance. This will complement an investigative report that is also being carried out.

Overview of Key Issues

According to existing research, the rate of academic underperformance is higher amongst
rural learners than their urban counterparts, even controlling for parental levels of
education, and household income (Belot and James, 2009).

Upon investigating the factors that impact academic performance in the country, recent
studies have demonstrated that nutrition affects students’ thinking skills, behaviour, and
health. According to (Florence et al, 2008), diets high in trans and saturated fats can
negatively impact learning and memory. Nutritional deficiencies early in life can also affect
the cognitive development of school-aged children, while access to nutrition improves
students’ cognition, concentration, and energy levels (Belot and James, 2009).

In their recent study on the correlation between nutrition and academic performance,
(Sorhaindo & Feinstein, 2006) argue that nutrition indirectly impacts school performance.









Poor nutrition can leave students susceptible to illness or lead to headaches and stomach
aches, resulting in school absences (Gómez-Pinilla, 2008). Access to nutrition that
incorporates protein, carbohydrates, and glucose has been shown to improve students’
cognition, concentration, and energy levels. Additionally, research has established a link
between nutrition and behaviour. Studies have found that access to nutrition, particularly
breakfast, can enhance a student’s psychosocial well-being, reduce aggression and school
suspensions, and decrease discipline problems (Brown et al., 2008).

Evidence on Programmatic Responses

To remedy the situation of academic underperformance, several global studies, including
one in Naledi, have shown that student attendance improves in schools that implement
universal-free school breakfast programmes. Students participating in a universal-free
school breakfast programme usually face fewer behaviour problems six months after the
program started. Disciplinary actions also have been shown to decrease in schools that offer
a universal-free school breakfast program (Gómez-Pinilla, 2008). School feeding
programmes tend to improve concentration and alertness among children. Many studies
indicate that children who do not get sufficient meals are more likely to repeat a grade
(Brown et al., 2008).

Elementary children who participate in school feeding programs often do better on

standardized tests than those who qualified but did not participate. Similarly, students in a
universal-free school feeding program have the proclivity of showing improved academic
results six months after the start of the program (Sorhaindo & Feinstein, 2006). Nonprofits,
businesses, and government institutions therefore have many opportunities to positively
impact students’ academic performance through increased access to healthy foods and
improved nutrition.









References
Belot, M., & James, J. (2009). Healthy school meals and educational outcomes. Journal of
Health Economics, 30(3), 489-504.

Florence, M. D., Asbridge, M., & Veugelers, P. J. (2008). Diet quality and academic
performance. Journal of School Health, 78(4), 209-215.

Gómez-Pinilla, F. (2008). Brain foods: The effects of nutrients on brain function. Nature
Reviews Neuroscience, 9(7), 568-578. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2805706/

Sorhaindo, A., & Feinstein, L. (2006). What is the relationship between child nutrition and
school outcomes? Retrieved from the Centre for Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning
website: http://www.learningbenefits.net/Publications/ResReps/ResRep18.pdf