Dublin: Lost Children Comming To School Hungry: Study Finds

Hunger is becoming a serious issue in Irish classrooms, according to a new survey.

The study found that one in five teachers have seen an increase in children arriving for school in the morning without having eaten breakfast.
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Related article: www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21636723

The “Lost Education” study, conducted by Opinion Matters, also found that nearly four in 10 (39%) of Irish teachers had themselves brought food into school for a pupil they know to be regularly hungry.

The poll was commissioned by Kellogg’s, who have announced a new collaboration with the children’s charity Barnardos, to provide free breakfasts for schoolchildren from disadvantaged communities in Ireland.

The survey of 500 primary and secondary teachers in Ireland found:

19% of teachers have seen a rise in children coming to school hungry
• 39% have brought food to school for a specific pupil
• 30% have seen children fall asleep at their desk out of hunger 
• 76% believe pupils who miss breakfast perform less well in exams

The study also asked teachers how much learning time pupils lose through hunger – with the result that in total, children who miss breakfast are effectively losing six weeks of learning every academic year.

In a statement, Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay said:

By ensuring children have a nutritious breakfast each morning, we are helping them to concentrate throughout the day, enabling them to learn and achieve their potential in life.