Uwezo is a Swahili word meaning capability. It's an East African initiative, assessing and promoting learning outcomes for Primary school going children between ages 6-16. Uwezo was inspired by a similar initiative in India called ASER (Annual Status of Education Reports). The assessment is conducted at household level, which helps to present families with the potential of being part of the children's learning journey, ensuring that education is not left for teachers and schools, but something which citizens can and should participate in to improve the quality of education. The Uwezo tests are based on Primary Two level content for English and Mathematics.

Uwezo Uganda is based on the premise that in the last two decades, there has been evidence of increasing number in enrolments across the region but with little improvements in learning outcomes especially children's numeracy and literacy abilities. Statistics for Uganda show that enrolment figures have risen from 2.5 million in 1997 to about 7.5 million to date. Uwezo intends to move the debate away from inputs in education, to what matters for all parents of quality education.

The initiative gives instant feedback of the results which are shared with the children and family immediately. This is done in a non judgmental manner and helps to trigger discussion on action that needs to be taken in households, communities and at school level to improve the quality of education.

Uwezo recognizes that the most effective way of achieving its objectives is through collaboration with government institutions, civil society organizations, and key individuals, both nationally and internationally. Therefore Uwezo is working in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB)/ NAPE, SNV, Forum for Education NGOs in Uganda (FENU), and other District based CSOs as well as education experts in the country

Uwezo Objectives

The specific objectives Uwezo seeks to achieve within the next 5 years are to:

• Develop and promote a simple broad-based method to assess children's competencies in literacy and numeracy;
• Enable parents, public, and the government to become aware of actual levels of children's competencies;
• Raise the issue of learning outcomes at the forefront of the public debate.
• Stimulate ministry of education in Uganda through dialogue and public pressure, to improve the quality of education by focusing on learning outcomes

 UWEZO NATIONAL ASSESSMENT 2011

Uwezo Uganda conducted its second annual learning assessment in 80 districts from 4th to 18th April 2011.Overall 48,000 households 24,000 schools were visited an approximately 108,000 children from 6-16years assessed for a period of 3days. From this assessment a report was released and launched on 18th August 2011.

To view the summary of the report, click Assessment 2011 Summary of the report

To view the full report, click (for faster links only) Uwezo National Assessment 2011 full report

2011 Annual Learning Assessment Tools

Uwezo Uganda used  different tools to conduct the annual learning assessment, some of the materials were used during the trainings and others were shared at the household as a call for action. To view the assessment tools, click Tools

UWEZO NATIONAL ASSESSMENT 2010

In Uganda Uwezo is hosted by the Uganda National NGO Forum and it is in its first year of implementation. Over a three day period 16th -18th April 2010, the assessment was conducted in the initial 27 districts for the first year and will be repeated for 4 years targeting all districts in the country. To read more, click Uwezo National Assessment 2010

To view the summary of the report, click 2010 Summary of the report

To view the full report, click full 2010 report