Aga Khan Foundation Uses Learning in School as a Measure of Success in Education.
From the 22nd – 24th January 2016, the Uganda National National NGO Forum working together with Uwezo Uganda and A-C-O-R-D Arua rolled out a learning assessment for Arua district Primary schools. The 3 days assessment, facilitated by Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), took place in 10 schools/ villages of Arua including Idioa, Egara B, Academy, Ayiforo, Mvara Central, Anori, Adovu, Oli D, Adravu and Ayelembe. The overall objective of the assessment was to establish learners’ competencies in numeracy ad Literacy (English and Lugbarati) in the AKF supported primary schools in Arua district under the SESEA project. 20 volunteers (7 females and 13 males) were selected from each of the sampled villages and underwent a 2 days training after which they moved to the field for data collection at school and households.
Strengthening Education Systems in East Africa (SESEA) is a five-year project (2013-2018) by Aga Khan Foundation designed to strengthen teacher education and support systems to improve and sustain learning outcomes – especially in literacy and numeracy – for girls and boys in pre-primary and primary school levels in target areas of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania;
As an outcome, the Learning assessment reached 200 households, 10 government aided Primary schools and 719 pupils.
Upon entry and analysis, the collected data will be used by Aga Khan Foundation to inform policy dialogue at the national level, across East Africa and within the district, as well as inform program implementation/improvement in the remaining years of its project. The assessment provided instant feedback to parents received about their children’s performance which challenged them to appreciate their role in ensuring that their children perform better at school and as a result, some parents pledged to buy text books for their children, prompt payment of school fees, visits to their children’s schools, among others. The assessment already has had an impact on the community.
