“All Ugandan children can read and count?”

I would like to believe that in less than 10 years, Uganda has registered massive success to the extent that “all Uganda children can now read and count,” but the facts on the ground indicate that this is highly unlikely. Here are some facts: “Only about 50 percent of the children in Primary 3 (normally…

I would like to believe that in less than 10 years, Uganda has registered massive success to the extent that “all Uganda children can now read and count,” but the facts on the ground indicate that this is highly unlikely.

Here are some facts:

“Only about 50 percent of the children in Primary 3 (normally aged eight years old) were proficient in literacy and numeracy in a 2018 survey conducted by the Government.” UNICEF

In its 2014 report, “Are our children learning? Literacy and Numeracy in Uganda,” UWEZO shared the following realities:

One out of 10 children assessed in Primary 3 were able to read and comprehend a Primary 2 level story and correctly solve Primary 2 level division. As in, only one out of 10 eight year old children were unable to function at the capacity normally expected of children aged seven years old. Meaning that nine out of ten children assessed in Primary 3 were unable to read and comprehend a Primary 2 level story and correctly solve Primary 2 level numeracy tasks up to division level.

Seven out of 10 assessed in Primary 7 were able to read and comprehend a Primary 2 level story and correctly solve Primary 2 level division. Meaning, Three out of ten children assessed in Primary 7 (normally aged twelve years old) were unable to read and comprehend a Primary 2 level story and do Primary 2 level numeracy tasks up to division level; normally expected of children seven years old.