CIES 2023: Improving Education for a more Equitable World
We are thrilled to be part of the CIES 2023 conference taking place on 18-22 Feb, in Washington DC. We shall be presenting and chairing various sessions per the poster here
Assessment of Life Skills and Values in Uganda report launched
After several months of tool development, pre-testing, piloting and rolling them out nationally, on Tuesday, 13th December 2022, we finally launched the Uganda National Assessment of Life Skills and Values in East Africa (ALiVE) report, themed; Do Our Children Have Life Skills and Values? Assessment of Life Skills and Values in East Africa (ALiVE) in partnership with Luigi Giussani Institute of Higher Education (LGIHE) and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) united under the Regional Education Learning Initiative (RELI). The assessment which focused on problem-solving, self-awareness and collaboration skills and the value of respect, reached 11,074 adolescents aged 13-17 years, from 7,815 households across 400 enumeration areas in 20 districts in Uganda. The full report can be accessed here.
Development of the Assessment of Children’s Writing Skills in Uganda
Assessment of literacy by Uwezo Uganda and other organisations united under the People’s Action for Learning (PAL) Network have mainly targeted reading and have seldom included writing. Our Beyond Basics Assessment of 2016 in Uganda did assess writing, but not extensively, yet there is need to be better informed about the state of children’s writing skills in order to support literacy effectively. In order to meet the challenges of assessing writing, in 2022, Uwezo Uganda, using an innovation grant from the PAL Network, piloted a procedure for assessing children’s writing skills with differentiated volunteer roles. The pilot focuses on writing in English by children aged 8-12 using performance tasks, but the assessment design could be adapted to other languages and age groups. The assessment methodology and pilot report can be accessed here.
Interfaced with the Education Policy Review Commission (EPRC)
Uwezo Uganda, at the invitation of the Education Policy Review Commission (EPRC), made a written and face to face submission to the Commission towards the ongoing reforms. The face to face event that took place on 19th October 2022 and covered by major media houses in the country recommended for the outcomes-based policy making, renewed efforts to address the problem of low, inequitable and delayed foundational learning and a shift in the education system to address the emerging needs in the country. Our full submission can be accessed here.
We will continue engaging with the Commission as the process unfolds.
Uwezo Uganda 2021 National Assessment Report Launched
The Uwezo 2021 National Assessment report was launched and it can be accessed at; https://uwezouganda.org/uwezo-report-final-version/ and the summary of findings can be accessed at; https://uwezouganda.org/uwezo2021report_summaryofkeyfindings_final/
Uwezo Uganda End of Year Newsletter
During the year 2021, we registered a number of achievements and we are pleased to share with you in the attached newsletter. Thank you for contributing to our success. The newsletter can be accessed here.
CIES 2022 Conference: Illuminating the power of Idea/lism
Kyambogo University STEAM Festival
Our ED Mary Goretti Nakabugo delivered a speech on 16th June 2022 at Kyambogo University Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STEAM) Festival under the theme, “Demystifying Science, Technology and Innovation for Community Development.”
The speech can be accessed here.
Uwezo Uganda celebrated One year
Uwezo Uganda celebrated one year as an independent entity on 21st December 2020 under the theme: Uwezo Uganda @1 during challenging times: Reflections on the implications of Covid-19 on children’s learning. Please click on the following link to access a recording of the event proceedings: link
Women’s Day panel discussion with the British High Commission
In preparation for the International Women’s Day, on 4th March 2021, the Uwezo Uganda Executive Director was part of a virtual panel discussion organized by The British High Commission; under the global theme “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a Covid-19 World”
Commemorating the International Mother Tongue Day
On 2nd March 2021, Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development commemorated the International Mother Tongue Day in partnership with other relevant government and non-government organizations including Uwezo Uganda, under the theme; “Mother tongue: Key to COVID 19 crisis prevention and response in Uganda”.
Schools2030 National Design Workshop
As a learning partner, Uwezo Uganda and other partners participated in the Schools 2030 National design workshop organized by the Aga Khan Foundation to unpack and identify the learning domains for young people age 5, 10 and 15 years aligned to Uganda’s national education agenda.
Policy brief published and launched
A policy brief was published on Inequalities in children’s basic literacy and numeracy skills in Uganda and their implications for Policy; and launched during the Ministry of Education and Sports, Basic Education Working Group meeting, on 2nd February 2021. Click here to access the policy brief
New York Times Article
Uwezo Uganda has been referenced in regards to the recent reopening of schools after the world’s longest Covid shutdown. The article can be accessed here.
New Blog: Access to and learning outcomes from early childhood education: equity considerations for refugees and non-refugees in Uganda
The blog was posted by Bea Simpson, Mary Goretti Nakabugo and Ricardo Sabates as a response to the September 2021 UKFIET conference presentation on ECE in Uganda. It was written against a backdrop of recent news of the arrival of 2,000 Afghani refugees in Uganda. It can be accessed here.
Letter to the UK Prime Minister and President Kenyatta published in Financial Times
Uwezo Uganda and other organisations that form part of the RISE Community of Practice advise world leaders at the Global Education Summit 2021 to focus on foundational literacy and numeracy skills to solve the learning crisis in the letter published by Financial Times. It can be accessed here