Uwezo: monitoring children's competencies in East Africa

Uwezo, meaning ‘capability’ in Kiswahili, is an initiative in which the competencies of school-aged children in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are measured to obtain information that encourages changes in educational policy and practice. Uwezo began as a four-year initiative (2009–2013) and it is envisaged that it will run for at least another five-year period. To achieve its purpose, Uwezo based its methodology on ASER – an education survey developed by Pratham in India – but adapted it so it was suitable for use in the East African context. Each year, Uwezo conducts a household-based survey focusing on children’s basic literacy and numeracy competency levels. This repeated administration allows comparison of results over time. To engage citizens in the data collection process and raise awareness about education levels, Uwezo recruits partner institutions whose volunteers administer the survey in each village. In addition, parents must be present during the assessment and receive instant feedback on their children’s competencies.