On March 18, 2025, Uwezo Uganda released its latest national learning assessment report, based on a survey conducted between July and August 2024 across 29 districts in Uganda. Titled ‘Are Our Children Learning? Learning Recovery and Challenges for Uganda,’ the report assesses children’s reading and numeracy skills in 2024, offering a comparison with findings from 2021, when Uwezo last conducted a similar assessment during the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated school closures. The report was officially launched by Dr. Cleophus Mugenyi, Commissioner for Basic Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, on behalf of the State Minister for Primary Education. During the launch, Dr. Mugenyi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the report’s recommendations.

The findings reveal a concerning decline in children’s average reading proficiency—both in English and local languages—compared to upper primary learners in 2021, likely a lingering consequence of reduced school attendance during the pandemic-related closures. On a positive note, the report highlights improvements in numeracy skills. It also underscores a gradual recovery from the prolonged school closures of 2020–2021. Pre-primary enrollment is steadily rebounding, and children aged 6–10, the target group for lower primary education, are showing English reading and numeracy levels that align more closely with those recorded in 2018, with fewer children classified as non-readers or non-numerate.

The report emphasises that enhancing literacy and numeracy at foundational levels is crucial for progress. It advocates for expanded access to Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs and stresses the need to tackle persistent challenges that hinder learning outcomes. Key recommendations include allocating resources to recruit more teachers, particularly for lower primary grades, and ensuring their equitable distribution across government-aided primary schools. Additionally, the report calls for targeted initiatives to support children who have fallen behind in literacy and numeracy, enabling them to catch up and fully benefit from their primary education.

The complete assessment report is available for download at: https://uwezouganda.org/download/Uwezo_Uganda_2024_Assessment%20Report_Launch%20Version.pdf

A summary of key findings can be accessed at: https://uwezouganda.org/download/Uwezo_Uganda_Key_Facts_Launch%20Version.pdf