are our children learning?

ARE OUR CHILDREN LEARNING?
Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa
2014
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Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
CONTENTS
1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. UWEZO
SURVEYS
3. KEY FINDINGS
4. UWEZO
ROUNDS 1-4:
TRENDS IN
LEARNING
5. PROGRESS
AGAINST THE 2015
EDUCATION FOR
ALL GOALS
19
23
APPENDIX A
AND
APPENDIX B
APPENDIX C
6. CONCLUSION
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THE FINALIZATION OF THIS THIRD EAST AFRICA UWEZO
REPORT HAS SEEN THE CONTRIBUTION OF THOUSANDS OF
INDIVIDUALS AND HUNDREDS OF INSTITUTIONS.
T
he report presents evidence from
the data collected in the year 2013
in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The
ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĚĂƚĂ ǁĂƐ ĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƚĞĚ
ďLJ ŽƵƌ ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĚ ƐƚĂī ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ͕ ůĞĚ ďLJ
Dr John Mugo in Kenya, Zaida Mgalla in
dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ ĂŶĚ ƌ DĂƌLJ 'ŽƌĞƫ EĂŬĂďƵŐŽ ŝŶ
hŐĂŶĚĂ͘ KǀĞƌĂůů ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂů ĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ
ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ďLJ ƌ ^ĂƌĂ ZƵƚŽ͕ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ
ZĂŬĞƐŚZĂũĂŶŝ͕ƚŚĞŶ,ĞĂĚŽĨdǁĂǁĞnjĂ͘
tĞƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞƚŚĞĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶŽĨŽƵƌƐƚƌŽŶŐ
teams of Facilitators and Trainers, Regional
Coordinators, District Contact Persons and
ŝƐƚƌŝĐƚ ŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƚŽƌƐ ǁŚŽ ĞŶƐƵƌĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ
ĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ŝŶ ĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ
366 districts across the three countries. We
ƚŚĂŶŬ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĚ hǁĞnjŽ
ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ǁĂůŬĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ŚŽƵƐĞ ƚŽ
house and school to school to complete the
assessment.
We are indebted to the ministries of
ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ <ĞŶLJĂ͕ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ ĂŶĚ hŐĂŶĚĂ͕
ĨŽƌ ŐƌĂŶƟŶŐ ƵƐ ŵƵĐŚ ŶĞĞĚĞĚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ŝŶ
ĐŽŶĚƵĐƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ hǁĞnjŽ ĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ͘ dŚĞ
ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ďƵƌĞĂƵƐ ŽĨ
ƐƚĂƟƐƟĐƐ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ hǁĞnjŽ ƐĂŵƉůŝŶŐ
ĂŶĚ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ŵĞƚŚŽĚŽůŽŐLJ͘ tĞ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ
1
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐĂůůLJ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ
ƚŚĞ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EĂƟŽŶĂů ĚǀŝƐŽƌLJ
ŽŵŵŝƩĞĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ dĞƐƚ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ
ƉĂŶĞůƐ͕ ǁŚŽ ŐĂǀĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚ ĂŶĚ ĂĚǀŝĐĞ͘
ĂƚĂŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚǁĂƐƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚďLJŽŶƌĂĚ
tĂƚŽůĂ͕ ^ƵŶĂŝ ŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ͕ ƌ ĚǁĂƌĚ ^ĂŵƵĞů
Jones and Dr Youdi Schipper.
dŚĞ hǁĞnjŽ ĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ ŵĂĚĞ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ
through the generous support of our
ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĚ ĚŽŶŽƌƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ,ĞǁůĞƩ
&ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ /ŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ &ƵŶĚ
&ŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ ;/&&Ϳ͕ ^ŝĚĂ͕ &/͕ ,ŝǀŽƐ͕ ĂŶĚ
ƚŚĞtŽƌůĚĂŶŬ͕ĂŵŽŶŐŽƚŚĞƌƐ͘dŚĞĮŶĚŝŶŐƐ
ĂŶĚƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĂƟŽŶƐŽĨƚŚŝƐƌĞƉŽƌƚĚŽŶŽƚ
ŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌŝůLJ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ƚŚĞ ǀŝĞǁƐ ŽĨ ĂŶLJ ŽĨ
these partners.
KƵƌĚĞĞƉĞƐƚĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶŐŽĞƐƚŽƚŚĞŚĞĂĚƐ
ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞ ĂƐƐĞƐƐĞĚ
ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂĚ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐ͕
ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƵƉŝůƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŚŽŽůƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ
ǀŝƐŝƚĞĚŝŶϮϬϭϯ͘tĞǁĞƌĞŝŶƐƉŝƌĞĚďLJĂůůƚŚŽƐĞ
ǁŚŽ ĚŽŐŐĞĚůLJ ƉƵƌƐƵĞ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƐƉŝƚĞ ŽĨ
imperfect circumstances.
The data used in this report can
ďĞ ĚŽǁŶůŽĂĚĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ŽƵƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ
www.twaweza.org
1. INTRODUCTION
IS OUR HEAVY INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION
LEADING TO CREATIVE, RESOURCEFUL AND
KNOWLEDGEABLE STUDENTS?
JOHN MUGO AND AIDAN EYAKUZE1
S
ŝŶĐĞǁĞƌĞůĞĂƐĞĚƚŚĞŝŶĂƵŐƵƌĂůƌĞƉŽƌƚ
ŝŶ ϮϬϭϬ͕ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ďƵĚŐĞƚƐ
ŚĂǀĞ ŐƌŽǁŶ͕ ŵŽƌĞ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂƌĞ
ĂƩĞŶĚŝŶŐĂŶĚĐŽŵƉůĞƟŶŐƐĐŚŽŽůĂŶĚ
the number of private schools has increased.
,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ͕ Are Our
Children Learning͍ /Ɛ ŽƵƌ ŚĞĂǀLJ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ
ŝŶĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶůĞĂĚŝŶŐƚŽĐƌĞĂƟǀĞ͕ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞĨƵů
ĂŶĚ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞĂďůĞ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ͍ Ž ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ
ĂŶĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶƐLJƐƚĞŵƚŚĂƚĂůůŽǁƐŽƵƌĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
to have big dreams and to pursue them?
&ŝŌĞĞŶ LJĞĂƌƐ ĂŐŽ͕ ŝŶ ĂŬĂƌ͕ ^ĞŶĞŐĂů͕ ϭϲϰ
countries, including Kenya, Tanzania and
hŐĂŶĚĂ͕ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĚƚŽƚŚĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌůů
ŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ LJĞĂƌ͕ ϮϬϭϱ͕ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ
ƉƌŽŵŝƐĞ ŵĂĚĞ ŝŶ ĂŬĂƌ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ĞǀĞƌLJ ĐŚŝůĚ
ǁŽƵůĚĂƩĞŶĚƐĐŚŽŽůĂŶĚůĞĂƌŶ͕ƐŚŽƵůĚŚĂǀĞ
ďĞĞŶ ĨƵůĮůůĞĚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƚŚƌĞĞ ĂƐƚ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ
ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐůŝƐƚĞĚĂďŽǀĞ͕ŐƌĞĂƚĞƌĨŽĐƵƐŝƐŶŽǁ
put on learning outcomes rather than solely
ŽŶ ŚŽǁ ŵĂŶLJ ƉƵƉŝůƐ ĂƌĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ĞĂĐŚ ĚĂLJ͘
dŚŝƐ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƐŚŝŌ ďƵƚ͕ ĂƐ ƚŚŝƐ
ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ƐŚŽǁƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽŵŝƐĞƐ ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĚ ƚŽ
ĂƐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ůů͕ ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽƚ ďĞĞŶ
ĨƵůĮůůĞĚ͘ tŚŝůĞ ŝŵƉĂƟĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ĞĂĐŚ ĐŚŝůĚ
ŝŶ ĂƐƚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ŝŶ ƐĐŚŽŽů ĂŶĚ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ͕ ǁĞ
ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐĨƵů ĐŚĂŶŐĞ ǁŝůů ƚĂŬĞ
ƟŵĞ͘
/ƚ ŝƐ ŽƵƌ ŚŽƉĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ǁŝůů ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ
meaningful evidence to accompany the
ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐĞīŽƌƚƐ͕ďŽƚŚƉƵďůŝĐĂŶĚƉƌŝǀĂƚĞ͕ƚŚĂƚ
ƐĞĞŬƚŽŝŵƉƌŽǀĞůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘
dŚƌŽƵŐŚĐŽůůĞĐƟŶŐĂŶĚĂŶĂůLJƐŝŶŐƚŚĞƐĞĚĂƚĂ͕
ǁĞ ƐĞĞŬ ƚŽ ƐŚŝŶĞ Ă ůŝŐŚƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ŽĨ
ŽƵƌ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ͕ ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚ
ĨŽƌ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŝƟnjĞŶƐ ƚŽ
ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚƚŚĞƚƌƵĞƉŝĐƚƵƌĞĂŶĚƋƵĂŶƟĨLJƚŚĞ
ŝŵƉĂĐƚŽĨƌĞĨŽƌŵƐĂŶĚĐŚĂŶŐĞĞīŽƌƚƐ͘
This report presents data collected in Kenya
in February 2013, in Tanzania in MayJune 2013 and in Uganda in July 2013. The
ĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ϯϲϲ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ
ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ĂƐƚ ĨƌŝĐĂ͘ /ƚ ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ Ă ƌĂŶĚŽŵ
ƐĂŵƉůĞ ŽĨ ŶĞĂƌůLJ ϭϱϬ͕ϬϬϬ ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ ĂŶĚ
326,610 children aged 6-16 years in Kenya
and Uganda, and 7-16 years in Tanzania.2 We
assessed the ability of each individual child
to read and understand English in the three
countries, alongside the ability of children to
ƌĞĂĚ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ <ŝƐǁĂŚŝůŝ ŝŶ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ
and Kenya, and the ability of children to
understand Luganda, Ateso, Leblango or
>ƵŶLJŽƌŽͲZƵƚŽŽƌŽ ;ĚĞƉĞŶĚŝŶŐ ŽŶ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶͿ
ŝŶ hŐĂŶĚĂ͘ dŚĞ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ǁĞƌĞ Ăůů ĂƐƐĞƐƐĞĚ
on their ability to complete basic numeracy
ƚĂƐŬƐ͘dŚĞƚĞƐƚƐƵƐĞĚƚŽĂƐƐĞƐƐĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶǁĞƌĞ
based on the Standard 2 curriculum in each
country.
The main message is that there has been
ůŝƩůĞĐŚĂŶŐĞŝŶůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐƐŝŶĐĞƚŚĞ
regional assessment started in 2009/10.
Only one out of three children in Standard 3
had Standard 2 competencies in literacy and
numeracy. While levels of literacy are higher
ƚŚĂŶƚŚŽƐĞŽĨŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJ͕ũƵƐƚŽŶĞŽƵƚŽĨĮǀĞ
children have both the literacy and numeracy
ƐŬŝůůƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ůĞǀĞůƐ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕
ŽŶĞ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ĮǀĞ ĂƐƚ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ƐĐŚŽŽů ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
ĂƌĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞƟŶŐ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ƐĐŚŽŽůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ
ŚĂǀŝŶŐĂĐƋƵŝƌĞĚďĂƐŝĐůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJĂŶĚŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJ
ƐŬŝůůƐ͘ >ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ŝŶ
<ĞŶLJĂ ĂŶĚ ůŽǁĞƐƚ ŝŶ hŐĂŶĚĂ͘ tŝƚŚŝŶ ĞĂĐŚ
country, learning outcomes are best in urban
ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌƐƚ ŝŶ
remote, rural districts.
dŚĞƌĞƉŽƌƚƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐĮǀĞŬĞLJĮŶĚŝŶŐƐ͗
1. dǁŽŽƵƚŽĨƚŚƌĞĞƉƵƉŝůƐĞŶƌŽůůĞĚŝŶ
Standard 3 in East Africa fall short on
ďĂƐŝĐůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJĂŶĚŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJƐŬŝůůƐ͘
2. Among pupils enrolled in Standard
7, one out of four do not have
Standard 2 level literacy and numeracy
competencies.
3. dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞůĂƌŐĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐŝŶƚĞƐƚƌĞƐƵůƚƐ
among countries in East Africa.
4. dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞůĂƌŐĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐŝŶƉĂƐƐƌĂƚĞƐ
ďĞƚǁĞĞŶĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐǁŝƚŚŝŶŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů
countries.
ϱ͘Children from poorer households
ĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚůLJƐŚŽǁůŽǁĞƌůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐůĞǀĞůƐ͘
dŚĞƐĞ ĮŶĚŝŶŐƐ ĐŽŶĮƌŵ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƚ ƚŚĂƚ <ĞŶLJĂ͕
Tanzania and Uganda have missed the target
ŽĨŚĂǀŝŶŐĂůůĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĂĐĐĞƐƐƋƵĂůŝƚLJůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ͘
tŝƚŚŽƵƚ Ă ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ͕
ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ǁŝůů ůĂĐŬ ƚŚĞ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ ŬŶŽǁͲŚŽǁ
ŶĞĞĚĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ĐƵƌŝŽƵƐ͕ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶŝŶŐ͕
ĂŶĚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĞĚ ĐŝƟnjĞŶƐ͘ Ɛ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐƚͲϮϬϭϱ
ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĚĞďĂƚĞ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞƐ ŝƚƐ ĐůŝŵĂdž͕
ǁŝƚŚƉƌŽďĂďůĞŶĞǁƚĂƌŐĞƚƐƚŽůĂƐƚƵŶƟůϮϬϯϬ͕
ǁĞŵĂŬĞĂůŽƵĚĐĂůůƚŽĨŽĐƵƐŽŶlearning as
ƚŚĞ ƚƌƵĞ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞ ŽĨ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐ ŝŶ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘
dŽ ĂǀŽŝĚ Ă ƚƌĂŐŝĐ ǁĂƐƚĞ ŽĨ ůŝŵŝƚĞĚ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů
ĂŶĚ ŚƵŵĂŶ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ŵƵƐƚ ŵĂŬĞ ƐƵƌĞ
ƚŚĂƚ ĞǀĞƌLJ ĐŚŝůĚ ǁŚŽ ĂƩĞŶĚƐ ƐĐŚŽŽů ůĞĂǀĞƐ
ǁŝƚŚ͕ĂƚƚŚĞǀĞƌLJůĞĂƐƚ͕ďĂƐŝĐŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJĂŶĚ
ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ ƐŬŝůůƐ͘ tŚĂƚ ǁĞ ŶĞĞĚ ŝƐ ĚĞĞƉ ĂŶĚ
ƵŶƌĞůĞŶƟŶŐ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƚŚŝƐ ĂŵďŝƟŽƵƐ͕
ďƵƚ ĨƵŶĚĂŵĞŶƚĂů ŐŽĂů͘ /ƚ ƌĞĂůůLJ ŝƐ ƵƉ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ
ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ĂŶĚ ĐŽůůĞĐƟǀĞ us. Ni mimi. Ni
wewe. Ni sisi.
Dr. John Mugo is the Director of Data and Voice
ĂƚdǁĂǁĞnjĂ͘ŝĚĂŶLJĂŬƵnjĞŝƐƚŚĞdžĞĐƵƟǀĞ
ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌŽĨdǁĂǁĞnjĂĂƐƚĨƌŝĐĂ͘
2
dŚĞůŽǁĞƌĂŐĞůŝŵŝƚŝƐĚŝĐƚĂƚĞĚďLJƚŚĞŽĸĐŝĂůĂŐĞ
ŽĨƉƌŝŵĂƌLJƐĐŚŽŽůĞŶƚƌLJŝŶĞĂĐŚĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͕ǁŚŝůĞƚŚĞ
ƵƉƉĞƌůŝŵŝƚƐĞĞŬƐƚŽĐĂƉƚƵƌĞŵŽƐƚŽĨƚŚĞĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
ĂƩĞŶĚŝŶŐƉƌŝŵĂƌLJƐĐŚŽŽů͘
1
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
2
2. UWEZO SURVEYS
U
ǁĞnjŽ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ ƐƵƌǀĞLJƐ
ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶŝƟĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ <ĞŶLJĂ ŝŶ ϮϬϬϵ͕
ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂŝŶůĂŶĚ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ ĂŶĚ
hŐĂŶĚĂ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϬ ;hǁĞnjŽ ƌŽƵŶĚ ϭͿ͘
The surveys have been conducted annually
ƐŝŶĐĞϮϬϭϭǁŝƚŚƚŚĞĨŽƵƌƚŚƌŽƵŶĚĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚŝŶ
ϮϬϭϯ͘/ŶĞĂĐŚƌŽƵŶĚ͕hǁĞnjŽƐƵƌǀĞLJƐŚĂǀĞďĞĞŶ
ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƚŽ Ă ŶĂƟŽŶĂůůLJ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞ
random sample of children of primary school
age up to age 16. Since the second round,
ƚŚĞƐĂŵƉůĞŚĂƐďĞĞŶĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚƚŽĂůůĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ
;ĂůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ĨŽƌ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJ
villages, in each district.4 Finally, in each EA, a
ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚůŝƐƟŶŐŝƐŵĂĚĞĂŶĚϮϬŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ
randomly selected. The design ensures
ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ Ăƚ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚ ĂŶĚ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ůĞǀĞůƐ
ĨŽƌĂůůĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĂŐĞĚϲ;ĂŐĞĚϳŝŶdĂŶnjĂŶŝĂͿƚŽ
ϭϲ LJĞĂƌƐ͘ ^ĂŵƉůĞ ǁĞŝŐŚƚƐ ĂƌĞ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ
ĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞůLJĂĚũƵƐƚĞĚƚŽƌĞŇĞĐƚƚŚĞde facto
;ƵƐĞĚͿƐĂŵƉůĞ͘
Second, all the data used here have been
ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ƚŽ ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ĚĂƚĂ
ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ƉƌŽƚŽĐŽů͘ DŝƐƐŝŶŐ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƐ
on test scores have been
IN ALL THREE COUNTRIES, THE UWEZO ASSESSMENT ŝŵƉƵƚĞĚ;ďĂƐĞĚŽŶĂŵƵůƟƉůĞ
REACHED A TOTAL OF 326,610 CHILDREN IN 366 DISTRICTS ƌĞŐƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŵĞƚŚŽĚͿ ƚŽ
ƌĞĚƵĐĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵĂƟĐ ďŝĂƐ͘ &Žƌ
ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ ϭϬϬй ŽĨ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽƚ ĂůǁĂLJƐ this reason, the results here may be slightly
ďĞĞŶ ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚͿ͘3 dŚŝƐ ĂůůŽǁƐ ƵƐ ƚŽ ŝŶǀĞƐƟŐĂƚĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞƐƵůƚƐ ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ
ďŽƚŚ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂů ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͕ ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂůĂŶĚŶĂƟŽŶĂůƌĞƉŽƌƚƐ͘
ƚƌĞŶĚƐ ŽǀĞƌ ƟŵĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ
dŚŝƌĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƚĞƐƚƐ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ hǁĞnjŽ
;ǁŝƚŚŝŶĂŶĚďĞƚǁĞĞŶĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐͿ͘
ƐƵƌǀĞLJƐĂƌĞŶŽƚŝĚĞŶƟĐĂů͘ŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐďĞƚǁĞĞŶ
countries arise because the tests are based on
2.1 UWEZO RESEARCH DESIGN
ƚŚĞĐŽŶƚĞŶƚŽĨƚŚĞŶĂƟŽŶĂůĐƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵŽĨĞĂĐŚ
Three technical aspects of the surveys and ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ;ƐĞĞ:ŽŶĞƐĞƚĂů͕͘ϮϬϭϰĨŽƌĂĚĞƚĂŝůĞĚ
ƚŚĞ ĚĂƚĂ ƵƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ŵĞƌŝƚ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ͘ ŽǀĞƌǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚĞƐƚ ĚĞƐŝŐŶͿ͘ ĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůůLJ͕ ŝŶ
&ŝƌƐƚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĞdžĐĞƉƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ƌŽƵŶĚ͕ ĞĂĐŚĐŽƵŶƚLJ͕ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚƚĞƐƚƐĂƌĞƵƐĞĚŝŶĞĂĐŚ
hǁĞnjŽ ƵƐĞƐ Ă ƚǁŽͲƐƚĞƉ ƐĂŵƉůŝŶŐ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ͘ ƐƵƌǀĞLJƌŽƵŶĚƚŽĂǀŽŝĚƉŽƐƐŝďůĞĐŽŶƚĂŵŝŶĂƟŽŶ
The stratum is the district, and all census ĚƵĞƚŽ͚ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐĞīĞĐƚƐ͛;ŝ͘Ğ͘ƌĞƉĞƟƟŽŶďŝĂƐͿ͘ϱ
ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ƐƚĞƉ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞƐ These concerns are important because they
ƵƐŝŶŐƉƌŽďĂďŝůŝƚLJƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶĂůƚŽƐŝnjĞ;WW^ͿƚŽ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐĞ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ŶŽŝƐĞ Žƌ ŶŽŶͲƐĂŵƉůĞ
ƐĞůĞĐƚ ϯϬ ĞŶƵŵĞƌĂƟŽŶ ĂƌĞĂƐ ;ƐͿ͕ ƚLJƉŝĐĂůůLJ ĞƌƌŽƌ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚĂƚĂ͘ dŚĂƚ ŝƐ͕ ŝŶ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ ƚŽ
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Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
ALL
YEAR
SCHOOLS
VILLAGES
DISTRICTS
%
HOUSEHOLDS
CHILDREN
2009
2,160
2,160
70
ΈϰϰΉ
32,179
74,781
2011
3,474
3,608
123
ΈϳϴΉ
ϱϯ͕ϱϮϮ
ϭϮϱ͕ϲϴϭ
2012
ϰ͕ϱϯϵ
ϰ͕ϱϱϵ
ϭϱϱ
ΈϵϴΉ
64,909
ϭϰϱ͕ϱϲϰ
2013
4,441
ϰ͕ϱϮϭ
ϭϱϱ
ΈϵϴΉ
62,089
ϭϯϱ͕ϭϬϵ
2010
1,010
1,062
42
ΈϯϮΉ
18,098
ϯϱ͕ϱϰϬ
2011
3,733
3,841
132
ΈϵϵΉ
ϱϳ͕ϵϰϱ
ϭϭϬ͕ϰϯϱ
2012
3,624
ϯ͕ϳϱϮ
126
ΈϵϱΉ
ϱϲ͕ϭϬϲ
ϭϬϱ͕ϯϱϮ
2013
3,770
3,828
131
ΈϵϴΉ
ϱϮ͕ϴϬϴ
104,162
2010
748
786
27
ΈϯϰΉ
12,380
32,768
2011
Ϯ͕ϭϭϱ
2,329
79
ΈϵϵΉ
ϯϱ͕ϯϱϵ
ϭϬϬ͕ϳϭϱ
2012
2,279
2,378
80
ΈϭϬϬΉ
34,667
92,188
2013
Ϯ͕ϯϱϯ
2,372
80
ΈϭϬϬΉ
34,013
87,339
2009/10
3,918
4,008
139
ΈϯϳΉ
ϲϮ͕ϲϱϳ
143,089
2011
9,322
9,778
334
ΈϵϬΉ
146,826
336,811
2012
10,442
10,689
361
ΈϵϳΉ
ϭϱϱ͕ϲϴϮ
343,104
2013
ϭϬ͕ϱϲϰ
10,721
366
ΈϵϵΉ
148,910
326,610
ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐƚŚĂƚĂƌŝƐĞďĞĐĂƵƐĞĂƌĂŶĚŽŵƐĂŵƉůĞŝƐ
ƵƐĞĚ͕ŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐŝŶŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐbetween
LJĞĂƌƐŝŶƚŚĞƐĂŵĞůŽĐĂƟŽŶŵŝŐŚƚƌĞŇĞĐƚŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞ
ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ hǁĞnjŽ ƚĞƐƚƐ͕
rather than genuine changes in performance
;ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů ĂƩĂŝŶŵĞŶƚͿ͘ /Ŷ ^ĞĐƟŽŶ ϰ ǁĞ ƌĞƉŽƌƚ
ĞƐƟŵĂƚĞƐ ŽĨ ĞƌƌŽƌ ŵĂƌŐŝŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚĂŬĞ ƚŚĞƐĞ
ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐŝŶƚŽĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ͘
2.2 THE LITERACY AND NUMERACY TESTS
dŚĞĐŽŶƚĞŶƚŽĨƚŚĞhǁĞnjŽƐƵƌǀĞLJƐŝƐĚĞƐĐƌŝďĞĚŝŶ
ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJͲƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ƌĞƉŽƌƚƐ ;ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ŽŶ
ǁǁǁ͘ƵǁĞnjŽ͘ŶĞƚͿ͘ &Žƌ ĞǀĞƌLJ ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚ͕ Ă ƐŚŽƌƚ
ƐĞƚŽĨƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐŝƐĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚĞƌĞĚƚŽƚŚĞŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚ
ŚĞĂĚƚŽĐŽůůĞĐƚďĂƐŝĐŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ;Ğ͘Ő͘ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚ
ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝƐƟĐƐͿ͘dŚĞĞŶƵŵĞƌĂƚŽƌƐ͕ŵĂŶLJŽĨǁŚŽŵ
are volunteers, also record details about the child,
ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ŚĞͬƐŚĞ ĂƩĞŶĚƐ ƐĐŚŽŽů ĂŶĚ Ăƚ
ǁŚĂƚŐƌĂĚĞ͘
dŚĞhǁĞnjŽƚĞƐƚƐĂƌĞƐĞƚĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐƚŽƚŚĞ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ
Ϯ ůĞǀĞů ĐƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵ ĨŽƌ ĞĂĐŚ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ
ůĞǀĞů ƚŽ ďĞ ĂƩĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŌĞƌ ƚǁŽ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ
ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘ dŚƵƐ͕ ĂƐƐƵŵŝŶŐ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ
ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶĞĚ͕ ŽŶĞ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ
ƉƵƉŝůƐĂƚ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚϯŽƌĂďŽǀĞƚŽĐŽƌƌĞĐƚůLJĂŶƐǁĞƌ
ĂůůƚŚĞƚĞƐƚƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ͘dŚŝƐŝƐƚĞƌŵĞĚĂ͚ƉĂƐƐ͛ŝŶƚŚĞ
ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƌĞƐƵůƚƐ͘
&Žƌ ĞĂĐŚ ĐŚŝůĚ ŽĨ ƐĐŚŽŽů ĂŐĞ ;ϲͲϭϲ ŝŶ <ĞŶLJĂ ĂŶĚ
hŐĂŶĚĂ͖ ϳͲϭϲ ŝŶ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂͿ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚ͕ Ă
short literacy and numeracy test is administered.
English literacy is tested in all three countries; in
Kenya and Uganda English is the main medium
ŽĨ ŝŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ƐĐŚŽŽů͘6 Enumerators
ƚĞƐƚ <ŝƐǁĂŚŝůŝ ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ ŝŶ <ĞŶLJĂ ĂŶĚ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ ĂŶĚ
literacy in four local languages in Uganda. As these
ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƐŽŶůLJĐŽǀĞƌĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƉĂƌƚƐŽĨhŐĂŶĚĂ͕ǁĞ
ŽŶůLJŚĂǀĞǀĂůŝĚƌĞƐƵůƚƐĨŽƌϭϱйŽĨhŐĂŶĚĂŶĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
in terms of local language literacy.
/Ŷ ƚŚĞůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ ƚĞƐƚƐ͕ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂƌĞ ĂƐŬĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĚ Ă
ůĞƩĞƌ;ŽƌůĞƩĞƌƐŽƵŶĚƐͿĨƌŽŵƚŚĞĂůƉŚĂďĞƚ͕ƌĞĂĚĂ
ǁŽƌĚ͕ƌĞĂĚĂƉĂƌĂŐƌĂƉŚ͕ĂŶĚƌĞĂĚĂŶĚĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶĚ
Ă ƐŚŽƌƚ ƐƚŽƌLJ͘ tĞ ĚĞĮŶĞ Ă ƉĂƐƐ ĂƐ ĂĐŚŝĞǀŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ
ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ůĞǀĞů͘ dŽ ƐŝŵƉůŝĨLJ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ͕ ǁĞ
ŽŌĞŶƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƌĞƐƵůƚƐĨŽƌĂƐŝŶŐůĞůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJƚĞƐƚ͘&Žƌ
each child, this refers to the highest score on any
one of the literacy tests. Thus, if a child in Tanzania
ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵƐďĞƩĞƌŽŶƚŚĞŶŐůŝƐŚůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJƚŚĂŶŽŶƚŚĞ
<ŝƐǁĂŚŝůŝ ƚĞƐƚ͕ ƐŚĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŽƌĞ ĨƌŽŵ
ƚŚĞŶŐůŝƐŚƚĞƐƚ;ĂŶĚǀŝĐĞǀĞƌƐĂͿ͘dŚĞƐĞŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞƐ
are labelled.
/Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJ ƚĞƐƚƐ͕ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂƌĞ ĂƐŬĞĚ ƚŽ
ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞŶƵŵďĞƌƐ͕ĐŽƵŶƚ͕ŝĚĞŶƟĨLJƉůĂĐĞǀĂůƵĞĂŶĚ
ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵďĂƐŝĐŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐŽĨĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ͕ƐƵďƚƌĂĐƟŽŶ͕
ŵƵůƟƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶĂŶĚ͕ŝŶ<ĞŶLJĂĂŶĚhŐĂŶĚĂ͕ĚŝǀŝƐŝŽŶ͘
ƉĂƐƐ ƌĞĨĞƌƐ ƚŽ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ĐŽŵƉůĞƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ
highest competency tested, division for Kenya and
hŐĂŶĚĂĂŶĚŵƵůƟƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌdĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ͘
2.3 COVERAGE OF THE SURVEYS
Table 1 summarizes coverage of the four survey
rounds in each country, indicated by the year of
ĚĂƚĂ ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶ͘ Ɛ ƚŚĞ ƚĂďůĞ ƐŚŽǁƐ͕ ǀŝƌƚƵĂůůLJ Ăůů
ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐǁĞƌĞĐŽǀĞƌĞĚŝŶϮϬϭϯ͘KǀĞƌĂůů͕ƚŚĞƐƵƌǀĞLJ
ǁĂƐ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ ŝŶ ũƵƐƚ ƵŶĚĞƌ ϵϵй ŽĨ Ăůů ƚĂƌŐĞƚĞĚ
ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ ;ϯϲϲͬϯϳϭͿ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϭϯ
sample size is large and provides rich coverage of
the diversity in learning outcomes according to
ƐŽĐŝŽͲĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐĂŶĚŐĞŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ͘
TABLE 1
ŽǀĞƌĂŐĞŽĨhǁĞnjŽƐƵƌǀĞLJƌŽƵŶĚƐ
1–4
NOTES: % indicates the
percentage of all districts covered.
The district list is based on the
ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟǀĞĚŝǀŝƐŝŽŶƐŝŶƚŚĞ
ůĂƚĞƐƚƌĞůĞĂƐĞŽĨƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶĂŶĚ
ŚŽƵƐŝŶŐĐĞŶƐƵƐĚĂƚĂĂƚƚŚĞƟŵĞ
of the survey design. All other
columns give the number of units
sampled and included in the
cleaned data.
SOURCE: calculated from Uwezo
surveys, rounds 1-4.
3
&ŽƌĞdžĂŵƉůĞ͕ŝŶϮϬϭϮ͕Ɛŝdž
ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐŝŶƚŚĞDƚǁĂƌĂƌĞŐŝŽŶŽĨ
dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂǁĞƌĞĞdžĐůƵĚĞĚ͕ĂƐƐƵƌǀĞLJ
ƉĞƌŵŝƐƐŝŽŶǁĂƐŶŽƚŐƌĂŶƚĞĚ
ĨƌŽŵĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟǀĞĂƵƚŚŽƌŝƟĞƐ͘
/Ŷ<ĞŶLJĂƚǁŽĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐǁĞƌĞŶŽƚ
covered in 2013 due to security
reasons and non-performance of a
ůŽĐĂůŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƟŶŐƉĂƌƚŶĞƌ͘
4
This means that villages or
ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐǁŝƚŚŵŽƌĞƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐĂƌĞ
ŵŽƌĞůŝŬĞůLJƚŽďĞƐĂŵƉůĞĚ͘
ϱ
ƌŽƚĂƟŽŶĂůƉĂŶĞůŝƐƵƐĞĚǁŚĞƌĞ
ĞĂĐŚLJĞĂƌϭϬŶĞǁƐ͕ĨŽƌŵŝŶŐĂ
third of this sample, are added.
/ŶĂĚĚŝƟŽŶ͕ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚůŝƐƚƐ
are generated each year. This
ƌĞĚƵĐĞƐƚŚĞůŝŬĞůŝŚŽŽĚŽĨƚŚĞ
same households being sampled.
ǀĞŶƐŽ͕ĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJƚǁŽƚŚŝƌĚƐ
of the EAs in each district are
retained from previous rounds,
ƐŽƚŚĞƌĞŝƐĂƐŵĂůůƌŝƐŬƚŚĂƚƐŽŵĞ
households are surveyed in
ŵƵůƟƉůĞƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘
6
>ŽŽŬŝŶŐĂƚƚŚĞůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ͕
ŝŶůŽǁĞƌƉƌŝŵĂƌLJƐĐŚŽŽů;ŐƌĂĚĞƐ
ϭͲϯͿŝŶ<ĞŶLJĂĂŶĚhŐĂŶĚĂƚŚĞ
local language of the catchment
area ought to be used as the
ŝŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶĂůŵĞĚŝƵŵ͕ǁŚŝůĞ
ŶŐůŝƐŚ;ĂŶĚĂůƐŽ<ŝƐǁĂŚŝůŝŝŶ
<ĞŶLJĂͿŝƐŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐĞĚĂƐƐĞĐŽŶĚ
language, this policy seems to
ďĞĂĚŚĞƌĞĚƚŽŵŽƌĞǁŝĚĞůLJŝŶ
Uganda.
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
4
3. KEY
FINDINGS
FIGURE 1
Test pass rates for children
enrolled in Standard 3, all
East Africa, 2013
30%
34%
20%
NOTES: “combined” refers
to passes on both the
numeracy test and at least
one of the literacy tests
in the survey. See text for
further details.
SOURCE: calculated from
Uwezo 2013 data.
Numeracy
FACT 1: TWO OUT OF THREE PUPILS
ENROLLED IN STANDARD 3 IN EAST
AFRICA DO NOT HAVE STANDARD 2 LEVEL
LITERACY OR NUMERACY SKILLS
WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƌŽƵŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ hǁĞnjŽ ƐƵƌǀĞLJƐ
ƐŚŽǁĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ďĂƐŝĐ ŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJ ĂŶĚ ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ
ƐŬŝůůƐ ŽĨ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ƐĐŚŽŽů ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ǁĞƌĞ
ĚĞĮĐŝĞŶƚĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘ǀŝĚĞŶĐĞĨƌŽŵƚŚĞ
fourth round supports the same conclusion.
&ŝŐƵƌĞϭ͕ǁŚŝĐŚƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐƚŚĞƚŚƌĞĞĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ
together, reports the percentage of children
ĞŶƌŽůůĞĚŝŶ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚϯǁŚŽĂƌĞĂďůĞƚŽƉĂƐƐ
each of the Standard 2 level numeracy and
literacy tests administered as part of the
hǁĞnjŽ ϰ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ;ϮϬϭϯͿ͘7 dŚĞ ĮŐƵƌĞ ĂůƐŽ
ƐŚŽǁƐƚŚĞƉĞƌĐĞŶƚĂŐĞŽĨ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚϯƉƵƉŝůƐŝŶ
the region that passed both the literacy and
numeracy tests “combined”. This measures
ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƉĂƐƐ ƚŚĞ
numeracy test and at least one of the literacy
5
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
Literacy
Combined
ƚĞƐƚƐ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ǁĞ ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ ƚĞƐƚ ŽŶ
ǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞĐŚŝůĚƉĞƌĨŽƌŵƐďĞƐƚ͘
ƌŽƵŶĚ ƚǁŽͲƚŚŝƌĚƐ ŽĨ Ăůů ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ϯ ƉƵƉŝůƐ
are unable to pass at least one of the tests.
^ƉĞĐŝĮĐĂůůLJ͕ ŽŶůLJ ϯϬй ŽĨ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ϯ ƉƵƉŝůƐ
ƉĂƐƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJ ƚĞƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϯϰй ;ŽŶĞ
ŽƵƚŽĨƚŚƌĞĞͿƉĂƐƐĞĚĂƚůĞĂƐƚŽŶĞůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJƚĞƐƚ͘
:ƵƐƚŽŶĞŽƵƚŽĨĮǀĞƉƵƉŝůƐ;ŽƌϮϬйͿĂƌĞĂďůĞ
to pass both a literacy and a numeracy test.
/ƚ ĨŽůůŽǁƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂŶLJ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŝŶ ĂƐƚ ĨƌŝĐĂ
are not learning the basic competencies
ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŵ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůLJ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ
ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ;ĂƐ ƐĞƚ ŽƵƚ ŝŶ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů
ĐƵƌƌŝĐƵůĂͿ͘ ŽƵŶƚƌLJͲƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ ƉĂƐƐ ƌĂƚĞƐ ĨŽƌ
ƚŚĞƐĞƚĞƐƚƐďLJŐƌĂĚĞĂƌĞĨŽƵŶĚŝŶƉƉĞŶĚŝdž
A.
3
ƐŶŽƚĞĚŝŶ^ĞĐƟŽŶϮ͕ƚŚĞĐŚŝůĚŝƐƐĂŝĚƚŽ
have passed the literacy test if he or she can
read a short paragraph in any one of the
tested languages.
100%
FIGURE 2
dĞƐƚƉĂƐƐƌĂƚĞƐ;Ăƚ
^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚϮͿĨŽƌĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
enrolled in Standard 7, all
East Africa, 2013
80%
NOTES: “combined” refers
to passes on both the
numeracy test and at least
one of the literacy tests
included in the survey.
SOURCE: calculated from
Uwezo 2013 data.
0
60%
40%
20%
79%
90%
76%
Numeracy
Literacy
Combined
FACT 2: ONE OUT OF FOUR STANDARD 7
PUPILS DO NOT HAVE STANDARD 2 LEVEL
LITERACY AND NUMERACY SKILLS.
ůƚŚŽƵŐŚƚŚĞŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJŽĨĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶŝŶ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ
ϯ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ƉŽƐƐĞƐƐ ďĂƐŝĐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ;ƐĞĞ &ĂĐƚ ϭͿ͕
ŝƚ ŝƐ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƚŽ ǀĞƌŝĨLJ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
approaching the end of primary school have
ĂƩĂŝŶĞĚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐŬŝůůƐ͘ &ŝŐƵƌĞ Ϯ ƌĞƉŽƌƚƐ ƚŚĞ
ƐŚĂƌĞ ŽĨ ƉƵƉŝůƐ ĞŶƌŽůůĞĚ ŝŶ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ϳ ;ƚŚĞ
ĮŶĂůLJĞĂƌŽĨƉƌŝŵĂƌLJƐĐŚŽŽůŝŶdĂŶnjĂŶŝĂĂŶĚ
hŐĂŶĚĂ͖ƚŚĞƉĞŶƵůƟŵĂƚĞLJĞĂƌŝŶ<ĞŶLJĂͿǁŚŽ
ƉĂƐƐĞĚƚŚĞƐĂŵĞhǁĞnjŽƚĞƐƚƐ͘
The Standard 7 pass rates are much higher
than those for Standard 3. Yet, considering
ƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƐĞĂƌĞƐŬŝůůƐĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚƚŽďĞĂƩĂŝŶĞĚ
ďLJ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ Ϯ͕ Ă ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ
ƐŚĂƌĞ ŽĨ ƉƵƉŝůƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ĨĂŝů ƚŚĞ ƚĞƐƚƐ ʹ
especially the numeracy test. Around one
ŝŶĨŽƵƌĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĞŶƌŽůůĞĚŝŶ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚϳ;ũƵƐƚ
ůĞƐƐ ƚŚĂŶ ϮϱйͿ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ƵŶĂďůĞ ƚŽ pass both
68%
78%
64%
52%
ƚŚĞ ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ ĂŶĚ ŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJ hǁĞnjŽ ƚĞƐƚƐ
ƐĞƚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ Ϯ ůĞǀĞů ;͞ĐŽŵďŝŶĞĚ͟Ϳ͘
ǀŝĚĞŶƚůLJ͕ ĐŽŵƉůĞƟŶŐ Ɛŝdž LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ƐĐŚŽŽůŝŶŐ
does not necessarily translate into genuine
ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ŵĂŶLJ ƉƵƉŝůƐ͘ ŽƵŶƚƌLJͲƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ
pass rates for these tests by grade are found
ŝŶƉƉĞŶĚŝdž͘
FACT 3: THERE ARE LARGE DIFFERENCES
IN TEST RESULTS BETWEEN COUNTRIES
IN
EAST
AFRICA, WITH
KENYA
OUTPERFORMING
TANZANIA
AND
UGANDA.
ŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ŝŶ ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ ĂŶĚ ŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJ ƐŬŝůůƐ
among children in the three countries can
be driven by many factors. These include
ƚŚĞĂŐĞŽĨƚŚĞĐŚŝůĚĂŶĚǁŚĞƚŚĞƌŽƌŶŽƚƐŚĞ
ŝƐ ĂƩĞŶĚŝŶŐ ƐĐŚŽŽů͘ Ɛ hǁĞnjŽ ƐƵƌǀĞLJƐ ĂƌĞ
ƵŶĚĞƌƚĂŬĞŶĂƚƚŚĞŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚͲůĞǀĞů͕ĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐ
is not restricted to children presently
ĂƩĞŶĚŝŶŐ ƐĐŚŽŽů͘ /ŶĚĞĞĚ͕ Ă ŵŽƌĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ
66%
48%
48%
ĐŽŵƉĂƌĂƟǀĞ ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ
can be gained from considering results for all
children of a given age.
&ŝŐƵƌĞ ϯ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞƐ ƉĂƐƐ ƌĂƚĞƐ ŽŶ hǁĞnjŽ
ƚĞƐƚƐ ;ϮϬϭϯͿ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŐĞĚ ϭϬͲϭϲ ŝŶ
ĞĂĐŚĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ƐǁĞŚĂǀĞĨŽƵŶĚŝŶƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ
ƌŽƵŶĚƐ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ƐƵďƐƚĂŶƟĂů ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ
ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ<ĞŶLJĂ͕dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂĂŶĚhŐĂŶĚĂ͘ĂƐĞĚ
on the round 4 data, the average Kenyan
child outperforms the average Tanzanian
and Ugandan child by a notable margin.
Compared to their Tanzanian counterparts,
ĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJ ϭϱй ŵŽƌĞ <ĞŶLJĂŶ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
are able to pass both tests. And nearly 30%
more Kenyan children are able to pass both
tests in comparison to Ugandan children.
dŚƵƐ͕ŽŶĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ũƵƐƚŽǀĞƌŽŶĞŽƵƚŽĨƚŚƌĞĞ
Ugandan children aged 10-16 achieve the
ŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJ ĂŶĚ ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ Ăƚ Ă
Standard 2 level. This compares to around
ƚǁŽŽƵƚŽĨƚŚƌĞĞ<ĞŶLJĂŶĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĂŶĚŚĂůĨŽĨ
Tanzanian children of the same age.
44%
36%
FIGURE 3
Test pass rates for children
aged 10-16, by country
NOTES: “combined” refers
to passes on both the
numeracy test and at least
one of the literacy tests
included in the survey.
SOURCE: calculated from
Uwezo 2013 data.
Kenya
Tanzania
Numeracy
Literacy
Uganda
Combined
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
6
FACT 4: THERE ARE LARGE DIFFERENCES
IN PASS RATES AMONG DISTRICTS
WITHIN INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES.
District Rank
dŽ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ŝŶ ƉĂƐƐ ƌĂƚĞƐ
ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ĞĂĐŚ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŚĞůƉĨƵů ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ
ĐŽŵƉĂƌŝƐŽŶƐ
ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ
ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟǀĞ
ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ͘ dŽ ĚŽ ƐŽ͕ ǁĞ ƌĂŶŬ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ ďĂƐĞĚ
ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŐĞĚ ϭϬͲϭϲ
;ďŽƚŚ ŝŶ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ƐĐŚŽŽůͿ ƚŚĂƚ ĐĂŶ ƉĂƐƐ
both the literacy and numeracy tests. When
ǁĞ ƵŶĚĞƌƚĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ
ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ă ǁŚŽůĞ ;ŝ͘Ğ͘ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƚŚƌĞĞ
ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌͿĂĐůĞĂƌƉĂƩĞƌŶĞŵĞƌŐĞƐ͘
ƐŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞĚŝŶ&ŝŐƵƌĞϰ͕ǁĞĮŶĚƚŚĂƚ<ĞŶLJĂŶ
ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ ĚŽŵŝŶĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƵƉƉĞƌ ƌĂŶŬƐ ;ϰϮ ŽĨ
ƚŚĞ ϱϬ ƚŽƉ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐͿ͕ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂŶ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ
ĂƌĞ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĨŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŝĚĚůĞ ƌĂŶŬƐ͕
ĂŶĚ hŐĂŶĚĂŶ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ ƉŽƉƵůĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ůŽǁĞƌ
ƌĂŶŬƐ͘ &Žƌ ŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ͚ďĞƐƚ͛ hŐĂŶĚĂŶ
ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚ;<ĂŵƉĂůĂͿŝƐĨŽƵŶĚĂƚϴϮŶĚƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ
ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϯϲϲ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ ĂƐƐĞƐƐĞĚ͖ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĮŌŚ
ďĞƐƚ hŐĂŶĚĂŶ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚ ŝƐ ĨŽƵŶĚ Ăƚ ƌĂŶŬ ϮϭϬ͘
dŚŝƐ ƵŶĚĞƌůŝŶĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƐLJƐƚĞŵĂƟĐ ŶĂƚƵƌĞ ŽĨ
ďĞƚǁĞĞŶͲĐŽƵŶƚƌLJĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐŝŶůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ͘
100%
tĞ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚ ƌĂŶŬŝŶŐ
ŝƐ Ă ƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĐƌƵĚĞ ĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕
ƚǁŽ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ͘
&ŝƌƐƚ͕ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ĞĂĐŚ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ůĂƌŐĞ
ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ĂŶĚ ǁŽƌƐƚ
ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĮŐƵƌĞ ďLJ
ƚŚĞƐƉĂŶ ;ƌĂŶŐĞͿ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚĞŶƐŝƚLJ ĐƵƌǀĞƐ͘ dŚĞ
ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĂŶ ƉĂƐƐ ƌĂƚĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ
ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ĂŶĚ ďŽƩŽŵ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ ŝƐ ĞƋƵĂů ƚŽ
ŶĞĂƌůLJ ϳϬй ŝŶ <ĞŶLJĂ͕ ϲϱй ŝŶ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ ĂŶĚ
ϱϭй ŝŶ hŐĂŶĚĂ͘ &Žƌ <ĞŶLJĂ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ŵĞĂŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ
70% more children aged 10-16 are able to
pass the tests in the best performing districts
ǀĞƌƐƵƐƚŚĞǁŽƌƐƚ͘dŚŝƐƉŽŝŶƚƐƚŽĂŵƵĐŚůĂƌŐĞƌ
ǀĂƌŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ ŝŶ <ĞŶLJĂ͕
ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚƚŽůĞƐƐǀĂƌŝĂƟŽŶ;ďƵƚůŽǁĞƌƐĐŽƌĞƐͿ
ŝŶ hŐĂŶĚĂ͘ ^ĞĐŽŶĚ͕ ŵĂŶLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽƩŽŵ
districts in each country are those that are
furthest from the capital city. This indicates
ƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƌĞŵĂLJďĞƐŽŵĞƐLJƐƚĞŵĂƟĐ͕ƐŚĂƌĞĚ
ĨĂĐƚŽƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĂƌĞĂƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞ ƉŽŽƌ
ůĞĂƌŶĞƌĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚ͕ƐƵĐŚĂƐŝƐƐƵĞƐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞ
ƌĞĐƌƵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƚĞŶƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŚŝŐŚ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ
teachers, and government monitoring of
outcomes.
60%
90%
80%
Pass Rate
70%
50%
40%
30%
20%
The full ranking of districts is found in
Appendix B.
10%
FIGURE 4
Ordered bar chart of district-level test pass
rates for children aged 10-16
NOTES: district ranks run from 1 (best) to
366 (worst) and are colour coded by country.
SOURCE: calculated from Uwezo 2013 data.
7
0
Kenya
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
Tanzania
Uganda
FACT 5: CHILDREN FROM POORER
HOUSEHOLDS CONSISTENTLY SHOW
LOWER LEARNING LEVELS.
Ŷ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ŵĞĂŶƐ ŽĨ ĐŽŵƉĂƌŝŶŐ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ
ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ĂŶĚ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ŝƐ
ƚŽĂŶĂůLJƐĞƌĞƐƵůƚƐĨŽƌĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĨƌŽŵĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ
ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘ dŽ ĚŽ ƐŽ͕ ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ
ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ǁĞƌĞ ĐĂƚĞŐŽƌŝnjĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚƌĞĞ ƐŽĐŝŽͲ
economic groups according to a number of
basic criteria – namely the durable assets
ŽǁŶĞĚ ;ds͕ ƌĂĚŝŽ͕ ƚĞůĞƉŚŽŶĞͿ͕ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ
they have access to electricity and/or clean
ǁĂƚĞƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĞLJ ŽǁŶ ĂŶLJ ŽŶĞ
ŵĞĂŶƐŽĨƚƌĂŶƐƉŽƌƚ;ďŝĐLJĐůĞ͕ĐĂƌ͕ŵŽƚŽƌďŝŬĞͿ͘
ĐŽŵďŝŶĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĐƌŝƚĞƌŝĂ LJŝĞůĚƐ Ɛŝdž
ĚŝŵĞŶƐŝŽŶƐĚĞƉĞŶĚŝŶŐŽŶƚŚĞƋƵĂŶƟƟĞƐĂŶĚ
ƚLJƉĞŽĨĂƐƐĞƚƐŽǁŶĞĚ͘hůƚƌĂͲƉŽŽƌŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ
ĂƌĞƚŚŽƐĞĚĞƉƌŝǀĞĚŽŶĂůůƐŝdžĚŝŵĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ͖ĂŶĚ
poor households are deprived on four or
ĮǀĞ ĚŝŵĞŶƐŝŽŶƐ͘ EŽŶͲƉŽŽƌ ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ ĂƌĞ
deprived in three or less of the dimensions.
tŚŝůƐƚƚŚŝƐĐĂƚĞŐŽƌŝnjĂƟŽŶŝƐĐƌƵĚĞ͕ŝƚƉŽŝŶƚƐƚŽ
ůĂƌŐĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞŐƌŽƵƉƐŝŶƚĞƌŵƐŽĨ
ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJĂŶĚŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJƐŬŝůůƐ;&ŝŐƵƌĞϱͿ͘
&ŝŐƵƌĞϱƐŚŽǁƐƚŚĂƚƚŚĞƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶŽĨĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
passing both the literacy and numeracy tests
in non-poor households in each country is
around 20 percentage points above the pass
rate of children in ultra-poor households.
dŚĞ ŐĂƉ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ŶŽŶͲƉŽŽƌ ĂŶĚ ƵůƚƌĂͲƉŽŽƌ
households is largest in absolute terms in
<ĞŶLJĂ ;Ϯϲ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚĂŐĞ ƉŽŝŶƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ůŽǁĞƐƚ
ŝŶ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ ;ϭϲ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚĂŐĞ ƉŽŝŶƚƐͿ͘ EŽƚĞ͕
ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ƚŚĂƚƵůƚƌĂͲƉŽŽƌŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐŝŶ<ĞŶLJĂ͕
on average, outperform non-poor households
in Uganda.
Percentage of Pupils Passing
70%
55%
42%
59%
44%
30%
44%
39%
24%
Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
Non-Poor
Poor
Ultra-poor
FIGURE 5
Average pass rates on both the literacy and
numeracy tests by household socio-economic
status, all children aged 10-16
SOURCE: calculated from Uwezo 2013 data.
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
8
4.
UWEZO ROUNDS 1-4:
TRENDS IN LEARNING
THE UWEZO SURVEYS ARE REPRESENTATIVE AT REGIONAL AND NATIONAL
>s>^Έ^W/d^KD^DW>/E'/&&ZE^dtEd,ZKhE^Ή͘
t/d,&KhZZKhE^KDW>dΈEKd,Zzd,EhDZ^ϭ
d,ZKh',ϰΉ͕d,/^WZD/d^DE/E'&h>E>z^/^K&dZE^KsZd/D͘
By country
FACT 1: TRENDS IN ENROLMENT HAVE
BEEN STABLE ACROSS THE REGION SINCE
2009/10.
Figure 7 plots the share of children enrolled
ŝŶ ƐĐŚŽŽů ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ă ǁŚŽůĞ ĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ
ĞĂĐŚĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ƐǁĞĐĂŶƐĞĞ͕ƚŚĞƌĞŝƐŶŽĐůĞĂƌ
ĞǀŝĚĞŶĐĞŽĨĂŶLJƵƉǁĂƌĚŽƌĚŽǁŶǁĂƌĚƚƌĞŶĚ
in any case. Although enrolment rates in
Tanzania do appear to have fallen, it should
ďĞ ŶŽƚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ŝŶ ZŽƵŶĚ ϭ ǁĂƐ
ŶŽƚĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞĂŶĚĞdžĐůƵĚĞĚĂŶƵŵďĞƌ
ŽĨ ƌĞŐŝŽŶƐ ;ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐͿ͘ KǀĞƌĂůů͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞĚ
ĞŶƌŽůŵĞŶƚĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐďĞƚǁĞĞŶƚŚĞLJĞĂƌƐďLJ
ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ƐƚĂƟƐƟĐĂůůLJ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ ĂŶĚ
ǁĞƐŚŽƵůĚƚƌĞĂƚƚŚĞƐĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐĂƐnjĞƌŽ͘
FIGURE 6
Average rates of enrolment,
by survey round and country
;ĂůůĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶͿ
Survey Round
Enrolment %
1
91%
2
90%
3
91%
4
90%
1
90%
2
88%
3
88%
4
87%
1
91%
2
92%
3
93%
4
92%
Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
NOTES: enrolment refers to
either primary or secondary
schooling, not pre-school.
SOURCE: calculated with data
from Uwezo survey rounds
1-4.
NOTES: enrolment refers to
either primary or secondary
schooling,
not pre-school.
90%
90%
90%
90%
1
2
3
4
Enrolment %
FIGURE 7
Average rates of enrolment,
ďLJƐƵƌǀĞLJƌŽƵŶĚ;ĂůůĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶͿ
All
SOURCE: calculated with data
from Uwezo survey rounds
1-4.
9
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
FIGURE 8
Average total scores in %
for East Africa, by survey
round (all children)
SOURCE: calculated with
data from Uwezo survey
rounds 1-4.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
1
2
Total Score
FACT 2: TRENDS IN TEST SCORES HAVE
BEEN STABLE ACROSS THE REGION SINCE
2009/10
The evidence from four rounds of data
ĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶ ŝƐ ĐůĞĂƌ͗ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ŶŽ
ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂďůĞ͕ ƐLJƐƚĞŵĂƟĐ ĐŚĂŶŐĞƐ ŝŶ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ
outcomes since 2010 across the three
countries. Figure 8 summarises the mean
ŽǀĞƌĂůů Žƌ ƚŽƚĂů ƚĞƐƚ ƐĐŽƌĞ ;ŝŶ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚĂŐĞ
ƉŽŝŶƚƐͿ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ƌŽƵŶĚƐ
ĨŽƌ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ĂƐƐĞƐƐĞĚ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ;ϲͲϭϲ LJĞĂƌƐ
in Kenya and Uganda, and 7-16 years in
dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂͿ͘ /Ŷ ĞĂĐŚ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƚĂů ƐĐŽƌĞ
is calculated as the sum of all individual
3
4
95% Cl
ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJĂŶĚŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJŝƚĞŵƐĐŽƌĞƐ͘/ŶŽƌĚĞƌ
ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ŵĂdžŝŵƵŵ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ
ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞĨƌŽŵƚŚĞhǁĞnjŽƚĞƐƚƐ͕ƚŚŝƐŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ
ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝŽŶ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ ďƵƚ ĞdžĐůƵĚĞƐ
the local language test in Uganda, due to the
ůĂƌŐĞ ŶƵŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ ŵŝƐƐŝŶŐ ŽďƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƐ͘ dŽ
ĂƐƐŝƐƚ ĐŽŵƉĂƌŝƐŽŶ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͕ ƚĞƐƚ
scores are stated as percentages - i.e., they
ĂƌĞĞƋƵĂůƚŽϭϬϬƟŵĞƐƚŚĞƌĂǁƐĐŽƌĞĚŝǀŝĚĞĚ
ďLJƚŚĞŵĂdžŝŵƵŵ͘
&ŝŐƵƌĞ ϴ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ϵϱй ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĂůƐ
ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƚĂů ;ƉůŽƩĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ďĂƌ
ŝŶƌĞĚͿ͕ǁŚŝĐŚƚĂŬĞŝŶƚŽĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ
ĂƌŝƐŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ŝŶ ƚĞƐƚ ĚŝĸĐƵůƟĞƐ
ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƌŽƵŶĚƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ĞĂĐŚ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ dŚĂƚ
ŝƐ͕ƚŚĞLJŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞƚŚĞƌĂŶŐĞŝŶǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞĂƐƚ
ĨƌŝĐĂǁŝĚĞƐĐŽƌĞǁŽƵůĚďĞĨŽƵŶĚŝĨĂůůŬŝĚƐ
ǁĞƌĞƚĞƐƚĞĚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞƐĂŵĞƚĞƐƚ͘&ŽƌĂŶLJŐŝǀĞŶ
LJĞĂƌƚŚĞŵĞĂŶƚĞƐƚƐĐŽƌĞ;ŐŝǀĞŶďLJƚŚĞŚĞŝŐŚƚ
ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďĂƌͿ ůŝĞƐ ƐƋƵĂƌĞůLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ
ŝŶƚĞƌǀĂů ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ LJĞĂƌƐ ;ŐŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƚŚĞ
ƌĞĚ ƌĂŶŐĞ ďĂƌƐͿ͘ tŚŝůƐƚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĂůƐ ĂƌĞ
ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟǀĞƚŚĞLJƌĞŵĂŝŶĨĂŝƌůLJůĂƌŐĞĚƵĞƚŽ
the small number of items included in each
ƚĞƐƚ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJ ůĂƌŐĞ
changes in mean scores observed in certain
ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐďĞƚǁĞĞŶLJĞĂƌƐ͘
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
10
Total
100%
90%
92%
91%
93%
78%
78%
81%
82%
51%
51%
54%
55%
1
2
3
4
80%
60%
73%
76%
76%
75%
75%
74%
77%
59%
59%
57%
61%
1
2
3
4
77%
40%
20%
0
1
2
3
Kenya
4
Tanzania
Uganda
FACT 3: THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF SYSTEMATIC CHANGES IN
LEARNING OUTCOMES IN ANY INDIVIDUAL EAST AFRICAN
COUNTRY SINCE 2009/10. THIS REFERS TO THE OVERALL TEST
^KZ^t>>^^h:dͳ^W/&/^KZ^͘
&ŝŐƵƌĞϵĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌƐĐŽƵŶƚƌLJͲƐƉĞĐŝĮĐƚƌĞŶĚƐŝŶƚŚĞƚŽƚĂůƐĐŽƌĞ͕ĂƐǁĞůů
ĂƐ ƐƵďũĞĐƚͲƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ ƐĐŽƌĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƚĂů ƐĐŽƌĞ ŝƐ ĐĂůĐƵůĂƚĞĚ ĂƐ ďĞĨŽƌĞ
;&ŝŐƵƌĞϴͿ͖ƐƵďũĞĐƚͲƐƉĞĐŝĮĐƐĐŽƌĞƐĂƌĞƐŝŵƉůLJƚŚĞƐƵďͲĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚƐŽĨ
ƚŚŝƐƚŽƚĂů͘/ŶĂůůĐĂƐĞƐ͕ƐĐŽƌĞƐĂƌĞĐŽŶǀĞƌƚĞĚƚŽƉĞƌĐĞŶƚĂŐĞƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘&Žƌ
ďĞƩĞƌĐŽŵƉĂƌĂďŝůŝƚLJ͕ƚŚĞƐĂŵƉůĞŚĞƌĞŝƐƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƚĞĚƚŽĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĂŐĞĚ
ϭϬͲϭϲ͕ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌĞŶƌŽůůĞĚŽƌŶŽƚ͘dŚŝƐĐŽŚŽƌƚƐŚŽƵůĚŚĂǀĞĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ
ĂƚůĞĂƐƚƚǁŽLJĞĂƌƐŽĨƐĐŚŽŽůŝŶŐŝĨƚŚĞLJŚĂĚĞŶƌŽůůĞĚŝŶƐĐŚŽŽůĂƚƚŚĞ
ĐŽƌƌĞĐƚƐƚĂƌƟŶŐĂŐĞ͘
ŐĂŝŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƐƵůƚƐ ĂƉƉĞĂƌ ƐƚĂďůĞ ŽǀĞƌ ƟŵĞ͘ KŶĐĞ ŽŶĞ ƚĂŬĞƐ ŝŶƚŽ
ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƚŚĞƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJŝŶƚĞƐƚƐĐŽƌĞƐĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚǁŝƚŚƵƐŝŶŐĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ
ƚĞƐƚ ĨŽƌŵƐ ŝŶ ĞĂĐŚ LJĞĂƌ͕ ŝƚ ĂƉƉĞĂƌƐ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŶŽ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ
ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ Žƌ ĚĞƚĞƌŝŽƌĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŽǀĞƌ ƟŵĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ŚŽůĚƐ ŝŶ
ĞĂĐŚĐŽƵŶƚƌLJĨŽƌƚŚĞƚŽƚĂůƐĐŽƌĞ͕ĂƐǁĞůůĂƐƚŚĞƐƵďũĞĐƚͲƐƉĞĐŝĮĐƐĐŽƌĞƐ͘
WƵƚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚůLJ͕ ǁŚŝůƐƚ ǁĞ do ŽďƐĞƌǀĞ ƐŽŵĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ŝŶ ƌĞƐƵůƚƐ
ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƌŽƵŶĚƐ ;Ğ͘Ő͘ ŵĂƚŚĞŵĂƟĐƐ ŝŶ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂͿ͕ ǁĞ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ĚŝƐŵŝƐƐ
ƚŚĞĐŽŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶƚŚĂƚƚŚŝƐƐŝŵƉůLJƌĞŇĞĐƚƐĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐŝŶƚŚĞƚĞƐƚĨŽƌŵƐ
rather than genuine changes in learning outcomes.
ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ĂďƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĐůĞĂƌ ƚƌĞŶĚƐ ŝŶ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĮŐƵƌĞƐ ĚŽ
ƌĞŝŶĨŽƌĐĞ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ůĂƌŐĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶͲĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ͘ &Žƌ
ĞdžĂŵƉůĞ͕ǁĞŶŽƚĞƚŚĂƚŶŐůŝƐŚůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJƐŬŝůůƐĂƌĞƐLJƐƚĞŵĂƟĐĂůůLJƉŽŽƌĞƌ
;ǁŽƌƐĞͿ ƚŚĂŶ ŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJ ƐŬŝůůƐ ŝŶ both Tanzania and Uganda among
ϭϬͲϭϲLJĞĂƌŽůĚƐ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ƚŚŝƐŝƐŶŽƚƚŚĞĐĂƐĞŝŶ<ĞŶLJĂ͘;dŚŝƐĮŶĚŝŶŐ
ĐĂŶďĞƐĞĞŶŝŶ&ŝŐƵƌĞϵͿ͘
11
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
Numeracy
100%
98%
98%
98%
98%
87%
95%
99%
89%
85%
83%
79%
83%
69%
67%
62%
67%
1
2
3
4
80%
75%
78%
78%
78%
60%
40%
60%
68%
72%
62%
1
2
3
4
20%
0
1
2
3
4
Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
English
100%
86%
88%
88%
90%
74%
76%
76%
78%
80%
60%
62%
60%
63%
67%
36%
35%
38%
42%
1
2
3
4
40%
63%
66%
68%
69%
47%
50%
52%
53%
1
2
3
4
20%
0
1
2
3
4
Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
Kiswahili
100%
85%
88%
86%
89%
83%
76%
78%
87%
80%
60%
72%
74%
73%
76%
40%
55%
48%
50%
59%
FIGURE 9
Average total scores in %
;ƉĂŐĞϭϭͿĂŶĚĂǀĞƌĂŐĞƐĐŽƌĞƐ
ŝŶйďLJƐƵďũĞĐƚ;ƉĂŐĞϭϮͿĨŽƌ
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
;ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶϭϬͲϭϲͿ
SOURCE: calculated with data
from Uwezo survey rounds
1-4.
20%
0
1
2
3
Kenya
4
1
2
3
4
Tanzania
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
12
5. PROGRESS AGAINST THE 2015
EDUCATION FOR ALL GOALS
GOAL
DEFINITION
1
džƉĂŶĚŝŶŐĂŶĚŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞĞĂƌůLJĐŚŝůĚŚŽŽĚĐĂƌĞĂŶĚ
ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ǀƵůŶĞƌĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĂĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞĚ
children.
DdZ/Έ^ΉZ/s&ZKDhtKd
^ŚĂƌĞŽĨĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶǁŚŽŚĂǀĞĂƩĞŶĚĞĚƉƌĞƐĐŚŽŽů͘
;ĂͿ ^ŚĂƌĞŽĨĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶŽĨƉƌŝŵĂƌLJƐĐŚŽŽůĂŐĞǁŚŽĂƌĞĞŶƌŽůůĞĚ΀ŶĞƚ
enrolment rate].
;ďͿ zĞĂƌƐŽĨĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚƐĐŚŽŽůŝŶŐ͘΀Ğ͘Ő͘ĂĐŚŝůĚĂƩĞŶĚŝŶŐ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ
2 has completed one year/grade].
;ĐͿ 'ĂƉ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĂĐƚƵĂů LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ
schooling.
2
ŶƐƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ ďLJ ϮϬϭϱ Ăůů ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͕ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ ŐŝƌůƐ͕ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŝŶ
ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ĐŝƌĐƵŵƐƚĂŶĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ďĞůŽŶŐŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĞƚŚŶŝĐ ŵŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ͕
have access to, and complete, free and compulsory primary
ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶŽĨŐŽŽĚƋƵĂůŝƚLJ͘
3
Ensuring that the learning needs of all young people and adults are
ŵĞƚƚŚƌŽƵŐŚĞƋƵŝƚĂďůĞĂĐĐĞƐƐƚŽĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐĂŶĚůŝĨĞͲƐŬŝůůƐ
programmes.
Not possible.
4
ĐŚŝĞǀŝŶŐ Ă ϱϬ ƉĞƌ ĐĞŶƚ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ůĞǀĞůƐ ŽĨ ĂĚƵůƚ ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ
ďLJϮϬϭϱ͕ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJĨŽƌǁŽŵĞŶ͕ĂŶĚĞƋƵŝƚĂďůĞĂĐĐĞƐƐƚŽďĂƐŝĐĂŶĚ
ĐŽŶƟŶƵŝŶŐĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌĂůůĂĚƵůƚƐ͘
Not possible.
5
ůŝŵŝŶĂƟŶŐŐĞŶĚĞƌĚŝƐƉĂƌŝƟĞƐŝŶƉƌŝŵĂƌLJĂŶĚƐĞĐŽŶĚĂƌLJĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ
ďLJϮϬϬϱ͕ĂŶĚĂĐŚŝĞǀŝŶŐŐĞŶĚĞƌĞƋƵĂůŝƚLJŝŶĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶďLJϮϬϭϱ͕ǁŝƚŚ
ĂĨŽĐƵƐŽŶĞŶƐƵƌŝŶŐŐŝƌůƐ͛ĨƵůůĂŶĚĞƋƵĂůĂĐĐĞƐƐƚŽĂŶĚĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚ
ŝŶďĂƐŝĐĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶŽĨŐŽŽĚƋƵĂůŝƚLJ͘
6
/ŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ Ăůů ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĞŶƐƵƌŝŶŐ
ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ Ăůů ƐŽ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĂďůĞ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ
outcomes are achieved by all, especially in literacy, numeracy and
ĞƐƐĞŶƟĂůůŝĨĞƐŬŝůůƐ͘
;ĂͿ EƵŵďĞƌŽĨŐŝƌůƐĞŶƌŽůůĞĚŝŶƐĐŚŽŽůĨŽƌĞǀĞƌLJϭϬϬďŽLJƐ΀ŐĞŶĚĞƌ
parity/access].
;ďͿ ǀĞƌĂŐĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞďĞƚǁĞĞŶŐŝƌůƐĂŶĚďŽLJƐŽŶƚŽƚĂůƚĞƐƚƐĐŽƌĞƐ͕
ĐĂůĐƵůĂƚĞĚďLJĂŐĞĂŶĚĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚ΀ŐĞŶĚĞƌĞƋƵĂůŝƚLJͬĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚ΁͘
;ĂͿ ^ŚĂƌĞ ŽĨ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƉĂƐƐ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ Ϯ ůĞǀĞů ůŝƚĞƌĂĐLJ ĂŶĚ
ŶƵŵĞƌĂĐLJƚĞƐƚƐ;ďŽƚŚͿ΀ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ΁͘
;ďͿ ^ŚĂƌĞŽĨĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĂďůĞƚŽĐŽƌƌĞĐƚůLJĂŶƐǁĞƌĂ͚ďŽŶƵƐ͛ŐĞŶĞƌĂů
ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ΀ůŝĨĞƐŬŝůůƐ΁͘
TABLE 2 ^ƵŵŵĂƌLJŽĨĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌůůŐŽĂůƐĂŶĚƋƵĂŶƟĮĐĂƟŽŶ
T
ŚĞ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ůů ŐŽĂůƐ ǁĞƌĞ
launched at the 2000 World
ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ &ŽƌƵŵ ŝŶ ĂŬĂƌ͕
^ĞŶĞŐĂů͕ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ϮϬϭϱ ĚĞĂĚůŝŶĞ ĨŽƌ
ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚ͘tŚŝůĞƚŚĞůĂƚĞƐƚƐĞƚŽĨhǁĞnjŽ
ĚĂƚĂ ƉĞƌƚĂŝŶƐ ƚŽ ϮϬϭϯ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ƟŵĞůLJ ƚŽ ĂƐƐĞƐƐ
ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐĂŐĂŝŶƐƚƚŚĞŐŽĂůƐ͘dĂďůĞϮƐŚŽǁƐƚŚĞ
ƐŝdžĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌůůŐŽĂůƐĂŶĚƚŚĞĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ
ŵĞƚƌŝĐƐƚŚĂƚĐĂŶďĞĚĞƌŝǀĞĚĨƌŽŵƚŚĞhǁĞnjŽ
ƐƵƌǀĞLJƐ͘ /Ŷ ƐŽŵĞ ĐĂƐĞƐ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ŐŽĂůƐ
ŝŶĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƐƵďͲŐŽĂůƐ ;Ğ͘Ő͘
'ŽĂůƐϮ͕ϱĂŶĚϲͿ͘&ŽƌŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕'ŽĂůϱƌĞĨĞƌƐ
ƚŽŐĞŶĚĞƌƉĂƌŝƚLJŝŶĂĐĐĞƐƐƚŽĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂŶĚ
ĞƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƚĞƌŵƐ ŽĨ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ͘ Ɛ
ĂĐŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶĐĞ͕ǁĞŚĂǀĞŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞ
ƐƵďͲŵĞƚƌŝĐƐǁŚĞƌĞƌĞůĞǀĂŶƚ͘
dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ŐŽĂůƐ ĨŽƌ ǁŚŝĐŚ hǁĞnjŽ
data cannot shed light – namely Goals 3
ĂŶĚϰ͕ďŽƚŚŽĨǁŚŝĐŚƌĞĨĞƌƚŽĂĚƵůƚůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ
outcomes.
Table 3 provides a summary of results
according to the metrics proposed in Table 2,
ĚŝƐƟŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ďLJ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ƌŽƵŶĚ͘
13
Selected results are also illustrated in Figure
ϭϮ͘/ŶĂůůĐĂƐĞƐ͕ǁĞƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƚƚŚĞĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐƚŽĂůů
children aged 10-16 by country, regardless of
ƚŚĞŝƌĞŶƌŽůŵĞŶƚƐƚĂƚƵƐ;ĂƐďĞĨŽƌĞͿ͘
ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚůLJ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌƌĞƐƉŽŶĚŝŶŐ
share of Tanzania and Ugandan children
from non-poor households. This is evidently
ĂŶĂƌĞĂĨŽƌƉŽůŝĐLJĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ͘
With respect to Goal 1͕ ǁĞ ŶŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ
ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ƉƌĞƐĐŚŽŽů ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ĨĂƌ ĨƌŽŵ
universal. Less than half of all children in
either Tanzania or Uganda report to have
ĂƩĞŶĚĞĚ ĂŶLJ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ƉƌĞƐĐŚŽŽů͘ DŽƌĞŽǀĞƌ͕
ƚŚĞƐŚĂƌĞŝƐŵƵĐŚůŽǁĞƌĂŵŽŶŐƚŚĞƉŽŽƌĞƐƚ
ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ;ŝ͘Ğ͘ƚŚŽƐĞǁŚŽǁĞĚĞĮŶĞĂƐƚŚĞ
͞ƵůƚƌĂͲƉŽŽƌ͖͟ƐĞĞ&ĂĐƚϱͿ͕ǁŚŽĂƌĞŵŽƌĞůŝŬĞůLJ
ƚŽ ďĞ ŝŶ ƌƵƌĂů ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƐƚƐ ŽĨ
ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ;ĐĞŶƚƌĂůͿƉƵďůŝĐƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐƚĞŶĚƚŽďĞ
ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͘/ŶĂůůĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͕ƚŚĞƐŚĂƌĞŽĨĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
ĨƌŽŵ ƵůƚƌĂͲƉŽŽƌ ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ ĂƩĞŶĚŝŶŐ
preschool is at least 10 percentage points
ůŽǁĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŽĨ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĨƌŽŵ ŶŽŶͲƉŽŽƌ
ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ͘/ŶhŐĂŶĚĂ͕ůĞƐƐƚŚĂŶϭŽƵƚŽĨϰ
children from ultra-poor households reports
ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĂƩĞŶĚĞĚ ƉƌĞƐĐŚŽŽů͘ dŚĞ ƐŚĂƌĞ ŝŶ
<ĞŶLJĂ ŝƐ ƐƵďƐƚĂŶƟĂůůLJ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ʹ Ϯ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ϯ
Kenyan children from ultra-poor households
ƌĞƉŽƌƚƚŽŚĂǀĞĂƩĞŶĚĞĚƉƌĞƐĐŚŽŽů͕ǁŚŝĐŚŝƐ
Goal 2 refers to access to a full, free primary
ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘/ŶĂůůƚŚƌĞĞĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐŽĸĐŝĂůĨĞĞƐ
for primary schooling have been abolished.
EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ǁĞ ŶŽƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ Ă ŵŝŶŽƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ
children of primary school age remain out
ŽĨ ƐĐŚŽŽů͘ dŚŝƐ ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ŵŽƐƚ ĂĐƵƚĞ ŝŶ
dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ϭϬй ŽĨ ĞůŝŐŝďůĞ
ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŚĂǀĞ ĞŝƚŚĞƌ ŶĞǀĞƌ ĂƩĞŶĚĞĚ Žƌ
ŚĂǀĞ ĚƌŽƉƉĞĚ ŽƵƚ͘ tĞ ĂůƐŽ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶ Ăůů
countries more than 1 in 10 eligible children
from ultra-poor households remain out of
school. Furthermore, as indicated by metrics
Ϯď ĂŶĚ ϮĐ͕ ǁĞ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂŶLJ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŚŽŽů ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ƐůŽǁůLJ͘
On average, children aged 10-16 in all three
countries have completed around 2-3 years
ĨĞǁĞƌƐĐŚŽŽůŐƌĂĚĞƐƚŚĂŶǁŽƵůĚďĞĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ
ŝĨƚŚĞLJĞŶƚĞƌĞĚƉƌŝŵĂƌLJƐĐŚŽŽůĂƚƚŚĞŽĸĐŝĂů
ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ ĂŐĞ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐĞĚ ͚ŶŽƌŵĂůůLJ͛ ;ŝ͘Ğ͘
ƉĂƐƐŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ŽŶĞ ŐƌĂĚĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ĞĂĐŚ
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
TABLE 3
WƌŽŐƌĞƐƐĂŐĂŝŶƐƚĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌůůŐŽĂůƐ͕ďLJ
country and survey round
KENYA
GOAL
1
TANZANIA
UGANDA
DdZ/
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
Z>z,/>,KKhd/KE
ͳ
ͳ
79.9
ͳ
ͳ
44.8
ͳ
ͳ
39.7
2A
NET ENROLLMENT
96.1
ϵϲ͘ϱ
ϵϰ͘ϱ
91.7
92.7
ϵϬ͘ϱ
97.1
ϵϳ͘ϱ
ϵϱ͘ϵ
2B
zZ^K&^,KK>KDW>d
4.7
4.8
4.7
4.1
4.2
3.9
3.8
3.8
3.2
2C
^,KK>/E''W
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.7
ϭ͘ϱ
1.9
3.0
2.9
ϯ͘ϱ
5A
'EZWZ/dz
100.0
99.7
100.0
100.8
ϭϬϬ͘ϱ
101.7
99.4
99.8
100.4
5B
>ZE/E'KhdKD^z'EZ
2.2
2.3
2.3
2.4
2.2
2.4
1.8
0.8
1.8
6A
>/dZzEEhDZz
64.8
63.4
63.7
48.3
49.9
48.4
36.4
37.9
ϯϱ͘ϴ
6B
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
94.7
ϵϱ͘ϭ
96.7
89.8
ϲϯ͘ϱ
90.2
ϲϯ͘ϱ
88.7
94.6
LJĞĂƌͿ͘EŽƚĞƚŚĂƚƚŚŝƐŝƐŶŽƚĚƌŝǀĞŶďLJĂĐĐĞƐƐ
ʹ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽǁĞƐƚ ͚ŐĂƉ͛ ;ŵĞƚƌŝĐ ϮĐͿ
ďƵƚĂůƐŽƚŚĞůŽǁĞƐƚĂĐĐĞƐƐƌĂƚĞƐ͘dŚĞƉŽŝŶƚŝƐ
that, aside from access challenges, primary
ƐĐŚŽŽůƐLJƐƚĞŵƐŝŶƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶĂƌĞŶŽƚĞīĞĐƟǀĞ
ŝŶ ĂƐƐƵƌŝŶŐ ƟŵĞůLJ ĐŽŵƉůĞƟŽŶ ;ĨŽƌ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ
ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶƐĞĞ:ŽŶĞƐĞƚĂů͕͘ϮϬϭϰͿ͘
Goal 5 ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞƐ ŐĞŶĚĞƌ ĚŝƐƉĂƌŝƟĞƐ͘ ,ĞƌĞ
ǁĞ ĐŽŵĞ ƚŽ Ă ŵŽƌĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĞǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶ͘
/Ŷ ƚĞƌŵƐ ŽĨ ďŽƚŚ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ
ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ͕ƚŚĞƌĞĂƌĞĞƐƐĞŶƟĂůůLJŶŽŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů
ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ďŽLJƐ ĂŶĚ ŐŝƌůƐ͘ dŚŝƐ
conclusion holds regardless of household
ƐŽĐŝŽͲĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐƐƚĂƚƵƐ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ƚŚŝƐŝƐŽŶůLJ
ĂĐŽƵŶƚƌLJǁŝĚĞ͚ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ͛ƌĞƐƵůƚĂŶĚƚŚƵƐŵĂLJ
ŵĂƐŬ ƐƵďƐƚĂŶƟĂů ůŽĐĂů ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ;ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ
ĂŶĚŶĞŐĂƟǀĞͿ͘
Goal 6ƌĞĨĞƌƐƚŽƋƵĂůŝƚLJŽĨůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ͘
ƐďĞĨŽƌĞ͕ǁĞĮŶĚƚŚĂƚƐƵĐŚŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐůĞĂǀĞ
much to be desired as many children aged
ϭϬͲϭϲ ;ĞŶƌŽůůĞĚ ĂďŽǀĞ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ ϮͿ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ
able to achieve basic reading and literacy
ĐŽŵƉĞƚĞŶĐŝĞƐ͘ƚƚŚĞƐĂŵĞƟŵĞ͕ĂŶƐǁĞƌƐƚŽ
ŐĞŶĞƌĂůŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ͚ďŽŶƵƐ͛ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ8 – not
analysed above – yield a more favourable
impression. While results vary across survey
ƌŽƵŶĚƐ͕ ƌĞŇĞĐƟŶŐ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ŝŶ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ͕
ŝŶĂůůƚŚƌĞĞĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐǁĞĮŶĚƚŚĂƚŵŽƌĞƚŚĂŶ
90% of children aged 10-16 are able to pass
Ăƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ŽŶĞ ďŽŶƵƐ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ŝŶ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ
ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘ tŚĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŚŝƐ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ
ůĞĂƌŶƚ ŝŶ ƐĐŚŽŽů ŝƐ ŝŵƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ ƚŽ ũƵĚŐĞ͕ ďƵƚ
it does suggest that children are gaining
ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ůŝĨĞ ƐŬŝůůƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ŽĨ
ƚŚĞǁŝĚĞƌƐŽĐŝĞƚLJŝŶǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞLJůŝǀĞ͘
dŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ LJĞĂƌƐ
ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶŝŶƉƌŝŵĂƌLJƐĐŚŽŽůŚĂĚĂƩĞŶĚĞĚƉƌĞͲ
ƐĐŚŽŽůǁĂƐŽŶůLJŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚŝŶZŽƵŶĚϰ͘
8
/ŶĂůůƚŚƌĞĞĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐĂŶĚĨŽƌĞĂĐŚƌŽƵŶĚ͕Ă
ŐĞŶĞƌĂůŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞƋƵĞƐƟŽŶŝƐƉŽƐĞĚ͕ǁŚŝĐŚ
ƐĞĞŬƐŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞƚŚĂƚĞǀĞŶĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶŶŽƚĂƩĞŶĚŝŶŐ
school should access. For instance in 2013,
ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶǁĞƌĞĂƐŬĞĚƚŽŝĚĞŶƟĨLJƚŚƌĞĞǁŝůĚĂŶŝŵĂůƐ
from pictures in Tanzania, and name parts of a
ƚƌĞĞŝŶ<ĞŶLJĂ͘dŚĞĐŚŝůĚĂŶƐǁĞƌƐŝŶƚŚĞŝƌƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ
language, and orally.
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
14
FIGURE 12
Outcome measures for
ƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌůů
goals, by country and survey
ƌŽƵŶĚ;ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶϭϬͲϭϲͿ
SOURCE:ĐĂůĐƵůĂƚĞĚǁŝƚŚĚĂƚĂ
ĨƌŽŵhǁĞnjŽƐƵƌǀĞLJƌŽƵŶĚƐ
ϮͲϰ͘ZŽƵŶĚϭŝƐĞdžĐůƵĚĞĚ
ďĞĐĂƵƐĞŽĨƚŚĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞŝŶ
ƐĐĂůĞǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŽƚŚĞƌƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘͘
Goal 2a - Net Enrolment
92% 93% 91%
96% 97% 95%
100%
97% 98% 96%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
2
3
4
2
Kenya
3
4
2
Tanzania
3
4
Uganda
Goal 2c - Years of Schooling Gap
3
3.5
2.9 3.5
3
Gap in Years
2.5
2
2
2
2
2
3
4
1.7 1.5 1.9
1.5
1
0.5
0
Kenya
15
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
2
3
4
Tanzania
2
3
4
Uganda
'ŽĂůϱĂͲ'ĞŶĚĞƌWĂƌŝƚLJ
100% 100% 100%
101% 101% 102%
99% 100% 100%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
2
3
4
2
Kenya
3
4
2
Tanzania
3
4
Uganda
Goal 6a - Education Quality
100%
90%
Pass Rate (%)
80%
70%
65% 63% 64%
60%
48% 50% 48%
50%
36% 38% 36%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
2
3
4
Kenya
2
3
4
Tanzania
2
3
4
Uganda
6. CONCLUSION
T
ŚŝƐ ƌĞƉŽƌƚ ƐƵŵŵĂƌŝƐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶ ĮŶĚŝŶŐƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϭϯ
hǁĞnjŽĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ͕ƵŶĚĞƌƚĂŬĞŶŝŶ<ĞŶLJĂ͕DĂŝŶůĂŶĚdĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ
and Uganda. With coverage of virtually all districts in these
ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͕ĂƐǁĞůůĂƐůĂƌŐĞƐĂŵƉůĞƐŝnjĞƐǁŝƚŚŝŶĞĂĐŚĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚ͕
ƚŚĞhǁĞnjŽƐƵƌǀĞLJƐƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂŶĞdžƚƌĞŵĞůLJƌŝĐŚƐŽƵƌĐĞŽĨŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ
to monitor trends in learning and to compare such outcomes both
ǁŝƚŚŝŶĂŶĚďĞƚǁĞĞŶĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘
dŚĞ hǁĞnjŽ ϮϬϭϯ ƌĞƐƵůƚƐ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚŽƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ
ƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘ Ɛ ďĞĨŽƌĞ͕ ǁĞ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂŶLJ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂƩĞŶĚŝŶŐ ƐĐŚŽŽů
ĂƌĞŶŽƚůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐďĂƐŝĐƐŬŝůůƐǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞĮƌƐƚĨĞǁLJĞĂƌƐŽĨĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘
DŽƌĞŽǀĞƌ͕ Ă ƐƵďƐƚĂŶƟĂů ƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĮŶĂů LJĞĂƌƐ
ŽĨ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ƐĐŚŽŽů ƐƟůů ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽƚ ĨƵůůLJ ŵĂƐƚĞƌĞĚ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ Ϯ ůĞǀĞů
ĐŽŵƉĞƚĞŶĐŝĞƐ͘/ŶƐƵŵ͕ƚŚĞĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶƐLJƐƚĞŵĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐƚŽĨĂŝůŵĂŶLJ
of our children.
Ɛ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƐƵƌǀĞLJ ƌŽƵŶĚƐ ƐŚŽǁĞĚ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂďůĞ
ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚŚƌĞĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͘ ƌŝƟĐĂůůLJ͕
hŐĂŶĚĂŶĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶƉĞƌĨŽƌŵůĞĂƐƚǁĞůůŽŶƚŚĞƚĞƐƚƐŽŶĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ͖ĂŶĚƚŚĞ
ŶŐůŝƐŚƐŬŝůůƐŽĨdĂŶnjĂŶŝĂŶĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĂƌĞƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJǁĞĂŬ͘tĞĂůƐŽĮŶĚ
ůĂƌŐĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ŝŶ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ
ďĞƚǁĞĞŶƐŽĐŝŽͲĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐŐƌŽƵƉƐǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞƚŚƌĞĞĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͘KǀĞƌĂůů͕
ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŝŶĞƋƵĂůŝƟĞƐ ;ĂŵŽŶŐ ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƐĐŚŽŽůƐͿ ĂƌĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ŝŶ
<ĞŶLJĂĂŶĚůŽǁĞƐƚŝŶhŐĂŶĚĂ͕ǁŚŝůĞŝŶĞƋƵĂůŝƟĞƐĂůŽŶŐƐŽĐŝŽͲĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ
ƐƚĂƚƵƐ ĂƌĞ ĂŐĂŝŶ ŚŝŐŚĞƐƚ ŝŶ <ĞŶLJĂ ďƵƚ ůŽǁĞƐƚ ŝŶ dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ͘ dŚŝƐ
ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞƐƚŚĂƚ͕ĚĞƐƉŝƚĞĂĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚƚŽƵŶŝǀĞƌƐĂůƉƌŝŵĂƌLJĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕
ĚŝƐƉĂƌŝƟĞƐŝŶĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂůŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐƌĞŵĂŝŶ͘
ŽŶƐŝĚĞƌŝŶŐƚŚĞƌĞƐƵůƚƐĨƌŽŵĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚƌŽƵŶĚƐŽĨƚŚĞhǁĞnjŽƐƵƌǀĞLJƐ͕
ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ůŝƩůĞ ĞǀŝĚĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ůĂƌŐĞ ĐŚĂŶŐĞƐ ŝŶ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ͘ dŚŝƐ
ŝƐƌĞŝŶĨŽƌĐĞĚŽŶĐĞǁĞƚĂŬĞĚƵĞĂĐĐŽƵŶƚŽĨŶŽŶͲƐĂŵƉůĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ͘
^ŝŵƉůLJ ƉƵƚ͕ ǁĞ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ƌŽďƵƐƚůLJ ŝĚĞŶƟĨLJ ĂŶLJ ĐŚĂŶŐĞƐ ŽǀĞƌ ƟŵĞ ŝŶ
ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ͘ ǀŝĚĞŶƚůLJ͕ ŝŶĞƋƵĂůŝƟĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĂůƐŽ ƉĞƌƐŝƐƚĞĚ ŽǀĞƌ
ƟŵĞ͕ǁŝƚŚĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶŽĨƵƌďĂŶĂŶĚǁĞĂůƚŚŝĞƌŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚůLJ
ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ďĞƩĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽƵŶƚĞƌƉĂƌƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƌƵƌĂů ĂŶĚ ƉŽŽƌĞƌ
households.
17
The evidence presented in this report demonstrates that the
ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌůů;&ͿƚĂƌŐĞƚƐƐĞƚĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞtŽƌůĚĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ&ŽƌƵŵ
ŝŶϮϬϬϬŝŶĂŬĂƌŚĂǀĞŶŽƚďĞĞŶŵĞƚŝŶ<ĞŶLJĂ͕hŐĂŶĚĂĂŶĚdĂŶnjĂŶŝĂ͘
ĂƐƚ ĨƌŝĐĂ ŝƐ ĨĂĐŝŶŐ ĂŶ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ĐƌŝƐŝƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚŽƵƐĂŶĚƐ ŽĨ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
ƉĂƐƐŝŶŐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ŵĂƐƚĞƌŝŶŐ
ĞǀĞŶƚŚĞŵŽƐƚďĂƐŝĐƐŬŝůůƐ͘ĂĐŚŽĨƚŚĞĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐŵƵƐƚǁĂŬĞƵƉƚŽƚŚŝƐ
ƌĞĂůŝƚLJ͕ĂŶĚĞŶƐƵƌĞƚŚĂƚĞǀĞƌLJĐŚŝůĚĂƩĞŶĚŝŶŐƐĐŚŽŽůƚŽĚĂLJůĞĂƌŶƐ͘WƵƚ
ŵŽƌĞƐƚĂƌŬůLJ͕ǁĞŚĂǀĞĨĂŝůĞĚƚŽůŝǀĞƵƉƚŽŽƵƌƉƌŽŵŝƐĞƐƚŽŽƵƌĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ
ĂŶĚǁĞŶĞĞĚƚŽƌĞǀŝĞǁĂŶĚƌĞĐƟĨLJƵŶůĞƐƐǁĞǁĂŶƚƚŽĮŶĚŽƵƌƐĞůǀĞƐ
ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐƚŚĞƐĞƐĂŵĞƐĞŶƚĞŶĐĞƐŝŶĂŶŽƚŚĞƌĮŌĞĞŶLJĞĂƌƐ͘
ƐdǁĂǁĞnjĂ͕ǁĞǁŝůůĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƚŽƉůĂLJŽƵƌƉĂƌƚ͘dŚĞhǁĞnjŽĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ
ǁŝůů ďĞ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ ĂŶŶƵĂůůLJ ƚŽ ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐ ŝŶ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ
ƐƵƉƉůLJ ĞǀŝĚĞŶĐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƉůĂLJĞƌƐ ŝŶ ďŽƚŚ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ
ƉŽůŝĐLJƐƉĂĐĞƐ͘ĞLJŽŶĚƚŚŝƐŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ǁĞŚĂǀĞĐŽŵĞƚŽƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƐĞƚŚĂƚ
ǁĞĐĂŶƉůĂLJĂĐƌŝƟĐĂůƌŽůĞŝŶĐƵƌĂƟŶŐĞdžŝƐƟŶŐĞǀŝĚĞŶĐĞŽŶŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ
ƚŚĞƋƵĂůŝƚLJŽĨĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂŶĚŵĂŬĞƚŚŝƐĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞƚŽƚŚŽƐĞƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ
ĨŽƌ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ͘ ŽŵďŝŶĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƌƵŶŶŝŶŐ
ƐŽŵĞƐŵĂůůŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶƐŽƌƚƌŝĂůƐŝŶƚŚĞƚŚƌĞĞĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ͕ǁĞďĞůŝĞǀĞ
ƚŚĂƚǁĞĐĂŶďƌŝŶŐŶĞǁŝĚĞĂƐĂŶĚĚŝƐĐŽƵƌƐĞŝŶƚŽƚŚĞĚĞďĂƚĞŽŶŚŽǁƚŽ
ĞŶƐƵƌĞƋƵĂůŝƚLJĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌŽƵƌĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͘
KǀĞƌƚŚĞĐŽŵŝŶŐLJĞĂƌƐ͕ƚŚŝƐĂƌĞĂŽĨǁŽƌŬǁŝůůĨŽĐƵƐŽŶĂŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨ
ĐƌŝƟĐĂůŝƐƐƵĞƐŝŶĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͗
•
•
•
•
dŚĞůĂĐŬŽĨůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐŝŶƐĐŚŽŽůƐĂŶĚƚŚĞůĂĐŬŽĨƐLJƐƚĞŵŝĐĨŽĐƵƐŽŶ
learning outcomes
KǀĞƌͲĂŵďŝƟŽƵƐ ĐƵƌƌŝĐƵůĂ ĂŶĚ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ĂŚĞĂĚ ŽĨ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ͛
learning levels
dĞĂĐŚĞƌŵŽƟǀĂƟŽŶ͕ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĂŶĚĂĐĐŽƵŶƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ
The limited ability of school leadership and management to
ensure that children learn
dŚŝƐŵĂƌŬƐĂŶĞǁĚĞƉĂƌƚƵƌĞĨŽƌdǁĂǁĞnjĂ͘/ĨǁĞĐĂŶŵĂŬĞŝŶĚĞŶƚƐŝŶ
ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐĞĞŵŝŶŐůLJ ŝŶƚƌĂĐƚĂďůĞ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ
ƚŚĂƚĂƐƚĨƌŝĐĂŶĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶǁŝůůůĞĂƌŶďĞƩĞƌĂŶĚĨĂƐƚĞƌ͘
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
18
COUNTRY LEVEL FINDINGS
APPENDIX A
FIGURE A.1
Test score pass rates for
individual tests in Kenya,
Tanzania and Uganda,
ďLJŐƌĂĚĞŝŶǁŚŝĐŚĐŚŝůĚŝƐ
ĞŶƌŽůůĞĚ;ϭͲϳͿ
English Test
10%
0
1
2
56%
19%
18%
15%
14%
12%
8%
11%
9%
30%
28%
30%
31%
40%
36%
50%
47%
60%
51%
53%
70%
Pass Rate (%)
72%
69%
80%
86%
84%
90%
20%
92%
100%
3
4
Kenya
Tanzania
5
6
7
Uganda
10%
0
1
2
3
Kenya
19
83%
6%
20%
14%
9%
30%
21%
17%
40%
32%
31%
27%
50%
51%
45%
39%
60%
13%
Pass Rate (%)
70%
70%
80%
63%
57%
57%
90%
76%
66%
73%
100%
83%
Numeracy Test
4
Tanzania
5
6
Uganda
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
7
SOURCE: calculated from
Uwezo 2013 data.
Swahili Test
93%
81%
59%
32%
40%
20%
30%
7
8%
20%
35%
50%
10%
6
45%
60%
20%
Pass Rate (%)
70%
60%
73%
80%
71%
90%
80%
86%
100%
0
1
2
3
4
5
Kenya
Tanzania
Combined
80%
58%
53%
50%
0
1
2
21%
13%
17%
9%
10%
9%
20%
12%
7%
30%
23%
26%
40%
40%
43%
40%
60%
4%
Pass Rate (%)
70%
63%
61%
73%
90%
82%
67%
76%
100%
3
Kenya
4
5
Tanzania
6
7
Uganda
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
20
91% 91% 91% 90%
1
2
3
4
90% 88% 89% 88%
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
73% 74% 74% 76%
65% 66% 68% 67%
54% 53% 52% 56%
1
2
3
Kenya
4
1
2
3
4
Tanzania
FIGURE A.2
dƌĞŶĚƐŝŶĞŶƌŽůŵĞŶƚ;ƚŽƉ
ƉĂŶĞůͿĂŶĚĐŽŵďŝŶĞĚ
ƚĞƐƚƐĐŽƌĞŵĂƌŬƐ;ďŽƩŽŵ
ƉĂŶĞůͿ;ŝŶйͿ͕ďLJĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ
and survey round
SOURCE: calculated from
Uwezo rounds 1-4.
21
91% 93% 93% 92%
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
1
2
3
Uganda
4
SAMPLE TESTS
APPENDIX B
SAMPLE ENGLISH STORY
DLJŶĂŵĞŝƐDƵŬĂƐĂ͘/ĂŵƐŝdžLJĞĂƌƐŽůĚ͘DLJƐĐŚŽŽůŝƐ<ĂƐĞƐĞWƌŝŵĂƌLJ
ƐĐŚŽŽů͘ DLJ ĮƌƐƚ ĚĂLJ Ăƚ ƐĐŚŽŽů ǁĂƐ ǀĞƌLJ ŐŽŽĚ͘ / ŐŽƚ ŵĂŶLJ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ͘ /
ƉůĂLJĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞŵ͘ / ƐĂǁ ŵĂŶLJ ŐŽŽĚ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ Ăƚ ƐĐŚŽŽů͘ ǀĞƌLJ ĐŚŝůĚ
should go to school.
SAMPLE DIVISION TEST
4 ÷2=
12 ÷ 3 =
6÷3=
21 ÷ 3 =
22 ÷ 2 =
9 ÷3=
18 ÷ 3 =
8÷2=
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
22
DISTRICT RANKING,
BY MEAN PASS RATE ON COMBINED TEST FOR ALL CHILDREN AGED 10-16
APPENDIX C
RANK
23
COUNTRY
DISTRICT
REGION
W^^ZdΈйΉ
1
Tanzania
Mbeya Urban
Mbeya
86.1
2
1
Kenya
Gatundu
Central
ϴϱ͘Ϭ
3
2
Kenya
Nyeri North
Central
84.7
4
3
Kenya
Nairobi East
Nairobi
ϴϰ͘ϱ
5
4
Kenya
>ĂŝŬŝƉŝĂĂƐƚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
82.2
6
ϱ
Kenya
Kiambu
Central
81.6
7
6
Kenya
Lari
Central
81.1
8
7
Kenya
/ŵĞŶƟEŽƌƚŚ
Eastern
80.8
9
8
Kenya
Ruiru
Central
80.2
10
9
Kenya
Tigania
Eastern
80.1
11
10
Kenya
Maara
Eastern
79.9
12
2
Tanzania
ƵŬŽďĂhƌďĂŶ
Kagera
79.7
13
11
Kenya
Nairobi North
Nairobi
79.0
14
12
Kenya
Limuru
Central
78.1
15
13
Kenya
dŚŝŬĂtĞƐƚ
Central
78.0
16
14
Kenya
Naivasha
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
77.9
17
ϭϱ
Kenya
Nairobi West
Nairobi
77.6
18
16
Kenya
/ŵĞŶƟ^ŽƵƚŚ
Eastern
ϳϳ͘ϱ
19
3
Tanzania
Arusha
Arusha
77.4
20
17
Kenya
<ŝŬƵLJƵ
Central
76.7
21
18
Kenya
DĂŬƵĞŶŝ
Eastern
76.3
22
19
Kenya
Muranga North
Central
76.2
23
20
Kenya
DĂƌĂŬǁĞƚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
76.0
24
21
Kenya
Githunguri
Central
ϳϱ͘ϵ
25
22
Kenya
Nandi North
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϳϱ͘ϵ
REGIONAL
COUNTRY
1
26
4
Tanzania
Morogoro Urban
Morogoro
ϳϱ͘ϰ
27
23
Kenya
Muranga South
Central
ϳϱ͘ϰ
28
24
Kenya
Nyandarua South
Central
ϳϱ͘Ϯ
29
Ϯϱ
Kenya
<ĂũŝĂĚŽEŽƌƚŚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
74.8
30
26
Kenya
Mbooni
Eastern
74.7
31
27
Kenya
EĂŬƵƌƵ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
74.4
32
ϱ
Tanzania
/ƌŝŶŐĂhƌďĂŶ
/ƌŝŶŐĂ
72.8
33
28
Kenya
^ŽƟŬ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϳϮ͘ϱ
34
29
Kenya
Keiyo
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
72.4
35
30
Kenya
>ĂŝŬŝƉŝĂtĞƐƚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
72.0
36
31
Kenya
<ŝďǁĞnjŝ
Eastern
71.9
37
32
Kenya
Kitui North
Eastern
71.9
38
33
Kenya
Molo
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
71.7
39
34
Kenya
Nyamira
Nyanza
71.6
40
ϯϱ
Kenya
Mandera East
North Eastern
71.4
41
36
Kenya
Manga
Nyanza
71.3
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
RANK
COUNTRY
DISTRICT
REGION
W^^ZdΈйΉ
37
Kenya
Mbeere
Eastern
71.2
43
38
Kenya
Kericho
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϳϬ͘ϱ
44
39
Kenya
Kangundo
Eastern
69.9
45
40
Kenya
Borabu
Nyanza
69.6
46
6
Tanzania
Kinondoni
Dar Es Salaam
ϲϵ͘ϱ
47
41
Kenya
<ŽŝďĂƚĞŬ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
69.2
48
7
Tanzania
,Ăŝ
<ŝůŝŵĂŶũĂƌŽ
69.1
49
8
Tanzania
DǁĂŶŐĂ
<ŝůŝŵĂŶũĂƌŽ
68.9
50
42
Kenya
DǁĂůĂ
Eastern
68.7
51
43
Kenya
Kilindini
Coast
68.6
52
44
Kenya
EĂŬƵƌƵEŽƌƚŚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
68.6
53
9
Tanzania
/ůĞŵĞůĂ
DǁĂŶnjĂ
68.1
54
ϰϱ
Kenya
Nandi South
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
68.1
55
46
Kenya
DĂĐŚĂŬŽƐ
Eastern
68.1
56
47
Kenya
Eldoret West
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
67.9
57
48
Kenya
Taita
Coast
67.8
58
49
Kenya
<ĂŬĂŵĞŐĂEŽƌƚŚ
Western
67.6
59
ϱϬ
Kenya
Nzaui
Eastern
67.6
60
ϱϭ
Kenya
Lamu
Coast
ϲϳ͘ϱ
61
10
Tanzania
DƉĂŶĚĂDũŝŶŝ
ZƵŬǁĂ
67.4
62
ϱϮ
Kenya
/ŐĞŵďĞ
Eastern
67.3
63
ϱϯ
Kenya
zĂƩĂ
Eastern
67.3
64
11
Tanzania
Kilolo
/ƌŝŶŐĂ
67.0
65
12
Tanzania
Kibaha Rural
WǁĂŶŝ
67.0
66
ϱϰ
Kenya
Embu
Eastern
66.8
67
13
Tanzania
/ůĂůĂ
Dar Es Salaam
66.8
68
14
Tanzania
/ƌŝŶŐĂZƵƌĂů
/ƌŝŶŐĂ
66.8
69
ϭϱ
Tanzania
Rombo
<ŝůŝŵĂŶũĂƌŽ
66.7
70
16
Tanzania
DƚǁĂƌĂhƌďĂŶ
DƚǁĂƌĂ
66.6
REGIONAL
COUNTRY
42
71
ϱϱ
Kenya
Nandi Central
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
66.2
72
ϱϲ
Kenya
Meru Central
Eastern
ϲϱ͘ϴ
73
ϱϳ
Kenya
Kaloleni
Coast
ϲϱ͘ϴ
74
ϱϴ
Kenya
Trans Nzoia East
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϲϱ͘ϳ
75
ϱϵ
Kenya
ƵƌĞƟ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϲϱ͘ϲ
76
60
Kenya
Mombasa
Coast
ϲϱ͘ϰ
77
17
Tanzania
Tanga Urban
Tanga
ϲϱ͘ϯ
78
18
Tanzania
dĞŵĞŬĞ
Dar Es Salaam
ϲϱ͘Ϭ
79
61
Kenya
Nandi East
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
64.9
80
19
Tanzania
Kyela
Mbeya
64.8
81
62
Kenya
Rongo
Nyanza
64.7
82
1
Uganda
Kampala
Central
64.7
83
63
Kenya
Rarieda
Nyanza
64.7
84
64
Kenya
Nyandarua North
Central
64.6
85
ϲϱ
Kenya
<ĂũŝĂĚŽĞŶƚƌĂů
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
64.6
86
66
Kenya
Bomet
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϲϰ͘ϱ
87
20
Tanzania
Shinyanga Urban
Shinyanga
64.2
88
67
Kenya
Bungoma West
Western
64.0
89
68
Kenya
Bondo
Nyanza
63.8
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
24
RANK
COUNTRY
DISTRICT
REGION
W^^ZdΈйΉ
69
Kenya
Baringo North
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
63.7
91
70
Kenya
<ŝƉŬĞůŝŽŶ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
63.7
92
71
Kenya
Kisumu East
Nyanza
63.7
93
72
Kenya
Baringo Central
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
63.6
94
73
Kenya
Masaba
Nyanza
63.4
95
74
Kenya
Nyando
Nyanza
63.4
96
ϳϱ
Kenya
<ĂŬĂŵĞŐĂ^ŽƵƚŚ
Western
63.4
97
21
Tanzania
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma
63.3
98
22
Tanzania
<ŽƌŽŐǁĞhƌďĂŶ
Tanga
63.1
REGIONAL
COUNTRY
90
25
99
76
Kenya
DǁŝŶŐŝ
Eastern
63.0
100
77
Kenya
Trans Nzoia West
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϲϮ͘ϱ
101
78
Kenya
Lugari
Western
ϲϮ͘ϱ
102
23
Tanzania
Moshi Urban
<ŝůŝŵĂŶũĂƌŽ
62.1
103
79
Kenya
,ĂŵŝƐŝ
Western
62.0
104
80
Kenya
Gucha
Nyanza
61.9
105
81
Kenya
Meru South
Eastern
61.9
106
24
Tanzania
Arusha Rural
Arusha
61.7
107
82
Kenya
Mutomo
Eastern
61.6
108
Ϯϱ
Tanzania
Kahama
Shinyanga
61.4
109
83
Kenya
<ĂŬĂŵĞŐĂĞŶƚƌĂů
Western
61.4
110
84
Kenya
Rachuonyo
Nyanza
61.2
111
ϴϱ
Kenya
Gatanga
Central
61.1
112
86
Kenya
dŚŝŬĂĂƐƚ
Central
60.9
113
87
Kenya
Bungoma East
Western
60.9
114
88
Kenya
Tinderet
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
60.8
115
26
Tanzania
Same
<ŝůŝŵĂŶũĂƌŽ
60.7
116
89
Kenya
Taveta
Coast
60.7
117
90
Kenya
Mt Elgon
Western
60.7
118
2
Uganda
Mbarara
Western
60.4
119
91
Kenya
Teso North
Western
60.4
120
27
Tanzania
Nyamagana
DǁĂŶnjĂ
60.3
121
3
Uganda
tĂŬŝƐŽ
Central
60.3
122
92
Kenya
Siaya
Nyanza
60.2
123
28
Tanzania
Moshi Rural
<ŝůŝŵĂŶũĂƌŽ
60.2
124
29
Tanzania
Bagamoyo
WǁĂŶŝ
60.1
125
93
Kenya
Vihiga
Western
60.1
126
94
Kenya
,ŽŵĂĂLJ
Nyanza
60.0
127
ϵϱ
Kenya
Emuhaya
Western
ϱϵ͘ϱ
128
96
Kenya
Bunyala
Western
ϱϵ͘ϰ
129
30
Tanzania
<ǁŝŵďĂ
DǁĂŶnjĂ
ϱϵ͘ϰ
130
97
Kenya
Butere
Western
ϱϵ͘Ϯ
131
98
Kenya
Mumias
Western
ϱϵ͘Ϯ
132
31
Tanzania
Singida Urban
Singida
ϱϵ͘ϭ
133
99
Kenya
<ĂŬĂŵĞŐĂĂƐƚ
Western
ϱϴ͘ϵ
134
32
Tanzania
Kigoma Urban
Kigoma
ϱϴ͘ϴ
135
100
Kenya
<ǁĂŶnjĂ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϱϴ͘ϲ
136
101
Kenya
Kisii Central
Nyanza
ϱϴ͘ϲ
137
33
Tanzania
EũŽŵďĞDũŝŶŝ
/ƌŝŶŐĂ
ϱϴ͘ϰ
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
RANK
COUNTRY
DISTRICT
REGION
W^^ZdΈйΉ
102
Kenya
Samia
Western
ϱϴ͘ϯ
34
Tanzania
Siha
<ŝůŝŵĂŶũĂƌŽ
ϱϴ͘ϯ
140
ϯϱ
Tanzania
Karatu
Arusha
ϱϴ͘ϭ
141
103
Kenya
Eldoret East
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϱϴ͘ϭ
142
36
Tanzania
ĂďĂƟhƌďĂŶ
Manyara
ϱϳ͘ϳ
143
37
Tanzania
/ůĞũĞ
Mbeya
ϱϳ͘ϲ
REGIONAL
COUNTRY
138
139
144
104
Kenya
EĂƌŽŬEŽƌƚŚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϱϳ͘ϲ
145
ϭϬϱ
Kenya
DƐĂŵďǁĞŶŝ
Coast
ϱϳ͘ϱ
146
106
Kenya
Marsabit
Eastern
ϱϳ͘ϯ
147
38
Tanzania
Misenyi
Kagera
ϱϳ͘Ϭ
148
107
Kenya
Suba
Nyanza
ϱϲ͘ϵ
149
39
Tanzania
,ĂŶĂŶŐ
Manyara
ϱϲ͘ϳ
150
108
Kenya
<ŝůŝĮ
Coast
ϱϲ͘ϳ
151
40
Tanzania
Kilombero
Morogoro
ϱϲ͘ϱ
152
109
Kenya
dŚĂƌĂŬĂ
Eastern
ϱϲ͘ϰ
153
110
Kenya
Busia
Western
ϱϲ͘Ϯ
154
111
Kenya
WŽŬŽƚĞŶƚƌĂů
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϱϲ͘ϭ
155
41
Tanzania
>ƵĚĞǁĂ
/ƌŝŶŐĂ
ϱϱ͘ϵ
156
112
Kenya
Gucha South
Nyanza
ϱϱ͘ϳ
157
113
Kenya
Kisumu West
Nyanza
ϱϱ͘ϳ
158
114
Kenya
Teso South
Western
ϱϱ͘ϰ
159
42
Tanzania
Mbeya Rural
Mbeya
ϱϱ͘ϰ
160
43
Tanzania
DĂƐǁĂ
Shinyanga
ϱϱ͘ϯ
161
ϭϭϱ
Kenya
tĞƐƚWŽŬŽƚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϱϰ͘Ϯ
162
116
Kenya
Moyale
Eastern
ϱϰ͘Ϯ
163
44
Tanzania
Mbinga
Ruvuma
ϱϰ͘ϭ
164
ϰϱ
Tanzania
DĂŬĞƚĞ
/ƌŝŶŐĂ
ϱϰ͘ϭ
165
46
Tanzania
Songea Urban
Ruvuma
ϱϰ͘Ϭ
166
117
Kenya
Wareng
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϱϯ͘ϴ
167
47
Tanzania
Magu
DǁĂŶnjĂ
ϱϯ͘ϲ
168
118
Kenya
Bungoma North
Western
ϱϯ͘Ϯ
169
48
Tanzania
DƵĮŶĚŝ
/ƌŝŶŐĂ
ϱϯ͘Ϯ
170
119
Kenya
Kisii South
Nyanza
ϱϯ͘ϭ
171
49
Tanzania
ZƵŶŐǁĞ
Mbeya
ϱϮ͘ϵ
172
120
Kenya
Trans Mara
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϱϮ͘ϴ
173
ϱϬ
Tanzania
Nanyumbu
DƚǁĂƌĂ
ϱϮ͘ϳ
174
121
Kenya
Bungoma South
Western
ϱϮ͘ϰ
175
ϱϭ
Tanzania
DĂĮĂ
WǁĂŶŝ
ϱϮ͘ϯ
176
ϱϮ
Tanzania
Lushoto
Tanga
ϱϮ͘ϯ
177
ϱϯ
Tanzania
Monduli
Arusha
ϱϮ͘Ϯ
178
ϱϰ
Tanzania
<ŽƌŽŐǁĞ
Tanga
ϱϮ͘Ϯ
179
ϱϱ
Tanzania
Manyoni
Singida
ϱϮ͘ϭ
180
ϱϲ
Tanzania
Musoma Urban
Mara
ϱϭ͘ϲ
181
122
Kenya
Tana Delta
Coast
ϱϭ͘ϱ
182
123
Kenya
Malindi
Coast
ϱϭ͘Ϯ
183
ϱϳ
Tanzania
ZƵĮũŝ
WǁĂŶŝ
ϱϭ͘ϭ
184
124
Kenya
<ǁĂůĞ
Coast
ϱϬ͘ϲ
185
ϭϮϱ
Kenya
Migori
Nyanza
ϱϬ͘ϰ
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
26
RANK
27
COUNTRY
DISTRICT
REGION
W^^ZdΈйΉ
126
Kenya
tĂũŝƌEŽƌƚŚ
North Eastern
ϱϬ͘Ϭ
187
ϱϴ
Tanzania
<ŝůǁĂ
Lindi
49.8
188
ϱϵ
Tanzania
Mbarali
Mbeya
49.6
189
60
Tanzania
>ŝǁĂůĞ
Lindi
49.6
190
61
Tanzania
^ƵŵďĂǁĂŶŐĂhƌďĂŶ
ZƵŬǁĂ
48.8
191
127
Kenya
Kirinyaga
Central
48.8
192
62
Tanzania
Chato
Kagera
48.7
193
128
Kenya
Samburu Central
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
48.7
194
129
Kenya
Garbatula
Eastern
ϰϴ͘ϱ
195
63
Tanzania
ŚĂŵǁŝŶŽ
Dodoma
48.2
196
64
Tanzania
Pangani
Tanga
48.2
197
ϲϱ
Tanzania
<ŝƐĂƌĂǁĞ
WǁĂŶŝ
48.1
REGIONAL
COUNTRY
186
198
130
Kenya
>ĂŝŬŝƉŝĂEŽƌƚŚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
48.0
199
131
Kenya
tĂũŝƌtĞƐƚ
North Eastern
47.9
200
66
Tanzania
Kigoma Rural
Kigoma
47.8
201
67
Tanzania
ƵŬŽďĂZƵƌĂů
Kagera
47.8
202
132
Kenya
Kyuso
Eastern
47.6
203
4
Uganda
:ŝŶũĂ
Eastern
47.0
204
133
Kenya
>ŽŝƚŽŬŝƚŽŬ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
46.9
205
68
Tanzania
ZƵĂŶŐǁĂ
Lindi
46.9
206
134
Kenya
tĂũŝƌĂƐƚ
North Eastern
46.9
207
69
Tanzania
DŬŝŶŐĂ
Tanga
46.8
208
70
Tanzania
Mbulu
Manyara
46.7
209
71
Tanzania
EũŽŵďĞ
/ƌŝŶŐĂ
46.7
210
ϱ
Uganda
Mityana
Central
46.6
211
6
Uganda
ƵŬǁŽ
Eastern
46.4
212
ϭϯϱ
Kenya
Kuria East
Nyanza
46.4
213
7
Uganda
/ďĂŶĚĂ
Western
46.4
214
136
Kenya
dƵƌŬĂŶĂĞŶƚƌĂů
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
46.3
215
8
Uganda
Bushenyi
Western
46.2
216
137
Kenya
EĂƌŽŬ^ŽƵƚŚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
ϰϱ͘ϴ
217
9
Uganda
Kalangala
Central
ϰϱ͘ϴ
218
72
Tanzania
Chunya
Mbeya
ϰϱ͘ϴ
219
73
Tanzania
Mpanda
ZƵŬǁĂ
ϰϱ͘ϳ
220
138
Kenya
Garissa
North Eastern
ϰϱ͘Ϯ
221
74
Tanzania
Lindi Urban
Lindi
ϰϱ͘Ϯ
222
ϳϱ
Tanzania
Kibaha Urban
WǁĂŶŝ
ϰϱ͘ϭ
223
10
Uganda
DƵŬŽŶŽ
Central
44.8
224
76
Tanzania
Tabora Urban
Tabora
44.3
225
139
Kenya
/ũĂƌĂ
North Eastern
44.3
226
77
Tanzania
Singida Rural
Singida
44.2
227
78
Tanzania
Muheza
Tanga
44.0
228
79
Tanzania
ƵŬŽŵďĞ
Shinyanga
43.9
229
80
Tanzania
ĂďĂƟZƵƌĂů
Manyara
43.8
230
81
Tanzania
Bunda
Mara
43.8
231
82
Tanzania
hŬĞƌĞǁĞ
DǁĂŶnjĂ
ϰϯ͘ϱ
232
11
Uganda
Kabale
Western
43.1
233
83
Tanzania
Namtumbo
Ruvuma
43.0
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
RANK
COUNTRY
DISTRICT
REGION
W^^ZdΈйΉ
12
Uganda
>ƵǁĞƌŽ
Central
42.8
13
Uganda
Mbale
Eastern
42.7
236
14
Uganda
Mpigi
Central
ϰϮ͘ϱ
237
140
Kenya
/ƐŝŽůŽ
Eastern
42.4
238
84
Tanzania
^ŝŵĂŶũŝƌŽ
Manyara
42.0
239
ϭϱ
Uganda
Kaabong
Nothern
41.9
240
ϴϱ
Tanzania
Kilosa
Morogoro
41.9
241
86
Tanzania
Sengerema
DǁĂŶnjĂ
41.8
242
16
Uganda
ZƵŬƵŶŐŝƌŝ
Western
41.8
243
87
Tanzania
/ƌĂŵďĂ
Singida
41.7
244
88
Tanzania
Meru
Arusha
41.6
245
89
Tanzania
<ĂƌĂŐǁĞ
Kagera
ϰϭ͘ϱ
246
141
Kenya
Kinango
Coast
41.2
247
17
Uganda
Kanungu
Western
41.1
248
18
Uganda
Abim
Nothern
40.9
249
90
Tanzania
EĞǁĂůĂ
DƚǁĂƌĂ
40.6
250
19
Uganda
Kasese
Western
40.2
251
91
Tanzania
Nzega
Tabora
40.1
REGIONAL
COUNTRY
234
235
252
92
Tanzania
Mbozi
Mbeya
40.0
253
93
Tanzania
Geita
DǁĂŶnjĂ
40.0
254
20
Uganda
EĂŬĂƐĞŬĞ
Central
39.7
255
94
Tanzania
^ĞƌĞŶŐĞƟ
Mara
39.6
256
21
Uganda
DĂƐĂŬĂ
Central
ϯϵ͘ϱ
257
22
Uganda
<ĂƉĐŚŽƌǁĂ
Eastern
ϯϵ͘ϱ
258
23
Uganda
Amolatar
Nothern
ϯϵ͘ϱ
259
24
Uganda
Masindi
Western
39.2
260
ϵϱ
Tanzania
Lindi Rural
Lindi
38.9
261
Ϯϱ
Uganda
ĚũƵŵĂŶŝ
Nothern
38.8
262
26
Uganda
/ƐŝŶŐŝƌŽ
Western
38.7
263
27
Uganda
EĂŬĂƐŽŶŐŽůĂ
Central
38.7
264
96
Tanzania
Bariadi
Shinyanga
ϯϴ͘ϱ
265
97
Tanzania
Tarime
Mara
38.0
266
98
Tanzania
Rorya
Mara
37.9
267
99
Tanzania
EĂĐŚŝŶŐǁĞĂ
Lindi
37.8
268
100
Tanzania
Urambo
Tabora
37.7
269
28
Uganda
Lyantonde
Central
37.6
270
29
Uganda
Kabarole
Western
ϯϳ͘ϱ
271
30
Uganda
Mubende
Central
37.4
272
101
Tanzania
Masasi
DƚǁĂƌĂ
37.3
273
102
Tanzania
Kiteto
Manyara
36.3
274
142
Kenya
WŽŬŽƚEŽƌƚŚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
36.3
275
103
Tanzania
Songea Rural
Ruvuma
36.3
276
104
Tanzania
Muleba
Kagera
36.2
277
31
Uganda
Buliisa
Western
36.2
278
ϭϬϱ
Tanzania
<ŽŶŐǁĂ
Dodoma
36.0
279
143
Kenya
Kuria West
Nyanza
ϯϱ͘ϵ
280
32
Uganda
^ŝƌŽŶŬŽ
Eastern
ϯϱ͘ϴ
281
33
Uganda
Ntungamo
Western
ϯϱ͘Ϭ
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
28
RANK
COUNTRY
DISTRICT
REGION
W^^ZdΈйΉ
34
Uganda
^ŽƌŽƟ
Eastern
ϯϱ͘Ϭ
106
Tanzania
Ngara
Kagera
34.8
REGIONAL
COUNTRY
282
283
29
284
107
Tanzania
Tunduru
Ruvuma
34.7
285
108
Tanzania
DƉǁĂƉǁĂ
Dodoma
34.6
286
144
Kenya
Tana River
Coast
34.4
287
ϯϱ
Uganda
Arua
Nothern
34.3
288
36
Uganda
Kiboga
Central
34.0
289
ϭϰϱ
Kenya
ĂƐƚWŽŬŽƚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
33.9
290
109
Tanzania
Kondoa
Dodoma
33.8
291
110
Tanzania
Bahi
Dodoma
33.6
292
37
Uganda
Kibaale
Western
ϯϯ͘ϱ
293
111
Tanzania
Kishapu
Shinyanga
33.4
294
38
Uganda
Kisoro
Western
33.1
295
146
Kenya
dƵƌŬĂŶĂ^ŽƵƚŚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
32.9
296
39
Uganda
Bundibugyo
Western
32.9
297
112
Tanzania
Ulanga
Morogoro
32.8
298
40
Uganda
,ŽŝŵĂ
Western
32.8
299
41
Uganda
Gulu
Nothern
32.3
300
42
Uganda
Pader
Nothern
32.3
301
113
Tanzania
Kibondo
Kigoma
32.3
302
43
Uganda
/ŐĂŶŐĂ
Eastern
31.9
303
147
Kenya
&ĂĮ
North Eastern
31.8
304
44
Uganda
<LJĞŶũŽũŽ
Western
31.7
305
ϰϱ
Uganda
Ssembabule
Central
ϯϭ͘ϱ
306
46
Uganda
Kamuli
Eastern
ϯϭ͘ϱ
307
47
Uganda
ƵŬĞĚĞĂ
Eastern
31.4
308
148
Kenya
Chalbi
Eastern
31.4
309
114
Tanzania
Mvomero
Morogoro
31.2
310
ϭϭϱ
Tanzania
DƚǁĂƌĂZƵƌĂů
DƚǁĂƌĂ
31.0
311
116
Tanzania
Shinyanga Rural
Shinyanga
30.9
312
117
Tanzania
Kasulu
Kigoma
30.8
313
118
Tanzania
Meatu
Shinyanga
30.8
314
149
Kenya
Samburu East
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
30.6
315
48
Uganda
<ĂŵǁĞŶŐĞ
Western
30.2
316
49
Uganda
ZĂŬĂŝ
Central
29.9
317
ϱϬ
Uganda
Kayunga
Central
29.9
318
119
Tanzania
Musoma Rural
Mara
29.7
319
ϱϭ
Uganda
Kumi
Eastern
Ϯϵ͘ϱ
320
ϱϮ
Uganda
Moroto
Nothern
Ϯϵ͘ϱ
321
ϱϯ
Uganda
Amuria
Eastern
29.3
322
ϱϰ
Uganda
Kiruhura
Western
29.2
323
120
Tanzania
Kilindi
Tanga
28.9
324
121
Tanzania
DŝƐƐƵŶŐǁŝ
DǁĂŶnjĂ
28.9
325
122
Tanzania
Uyui
Tabora
28.8
326
ϭϱϬ
Kenya
Lagdera
North Eastern
28.7
327
ϱϱ
Uganda
Tororo
Eastern
28.6
328
123
Tanzania
^ŝŬŽŶŐĞ
Tabora
28.6
329
ϱϲ
Uganda
Kaliro
Eastern
Ϯϴ͘ϱ
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
RANK
COUNTRY
DISTRICT
REGION
W^^ZdΈйΉ
ϱϳ
Uganda
Nebbi
Nothern
Ϯϴ͘ϱ
331
ϭϱϭ
Kenya
dƵƌŬĂŶĂEŽƌƚŚ
ZŝŌsĂůůĞLJ
28.2
332
ϱϴ
Uganda
Buduuda
Eastern
28.1
333
ϱϵ
Uganda
Kitgum
Nothern
27.9
334
60
Uganda
<ŽďŽŬŽ
Nothern
27.6
335
ϭϱϮ
Kenya
Laisamis
Eastern
26.9
REGIONAL
COUNTRY
330
336
124
Tanzania
/ŐƵŶŐĂ
Tabora
26.9
337
61
Uganda
Namutumba
Eastern
26.7
338
ϭϮϱ
Tanzania
EŬĂƐŝ
ZƵŬǁĂ
Ϯϲ͘ϱ
339
126
Tanzania
Biharamulo
Kagera
26.4
340
62
Uganda
Lira
Nothern
26.1
341
127
Tanzania
Ngorongoro
Arusha
26.0
342
63
Uganda
Amuru
Nothern
Ϯϱ͘ϳ
343
64
Uganda
Mayuge
Eastern
Ϯϱ͘ϲ
344
128
Tanzania
Tandahimba
DƚǁĂƌĂ
Ϯϱ͘ϭ
345
ϲϱ
Uganda
Pallisa
Eastern
Ϯϱ͘Ϭ
346
66
Uganda
Moyo
Nothern
24.6
347
67
Uganda
Nyadri
Nothern
24.1
348
ϭϱϯ
Kenya
tĂũŝƌ^ŽƵƚŚ
North Eastern
23.7
349
129
Tanzania
Morogoro
Morogoro
23.7
350
68
Uganda
DĂŶĂĨǁĂ
Eastern
23.3
351
69
Uganda
Kaberamaido
Eastern
23.0
352
130
Tanzania
Longido
Arusha
23.0
353
70
Uganda
ƵƚĂůĞũĂ
Eastern
22.7
354
71
Uganda
ƵĚĂŬĂ
Eastern
21.6
355
72
Uganda
<ĂƚĂŬǁŝ
Eastern
21.1
356
131
Tanzania
DŬƵƌĂŶŐĂ
WǁĂŶŝ
20.8
357
ϭϱϰ
Kenya
Mandera Central
North Eastern
ϮϬ͘ϱ
358
73
Uganda
Apac
Nothern
20.0
359
74
Uganda
Busia
Eastern
19.2
360
ϳϱ
Uganda
EĂŬĂƉŝƌŝƉŝƌŝƚ
Nothern
19.1
361
76
Uganda
Yumbe
Nothern
18.0
362
77
Uganda
<ŽƟĚŽ
Nothern
18.0
363
78
Uganda
Bugiri
Eastern
17.2
364
ϭϱϱ
Kenya
Mandera West
North Eastern
17.0
365
79
Uganda
ŽŬŽůŽ
Nothern
16.8
366
80
Uganda
Oyam
Nothern
13.1
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
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Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
Design by tŽŶĚ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ
Are Our Children Learning? | Literacy and Numeracy Across East Africa | 2014
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