Uganda

CIES 2018 Presentation, given by Scholastica Tiguryera. While in-service training is an essential component of early grade reading (EGR) projects, it only addresses the current force of teachers and is usually a one-time, resource intensive undertaking. In these efforts, pre-service teacher education is often not addressed overlooking the next generation of teachers who will also need to know how to teach the new reading curriculum. This presentation will discuss how the Uganda Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) has worked with two USAID-funded EGR projects (School Health and Reading Program [SHRP] and Literacy Achievement and Retention Activity [LARA]), a government-run EGR project funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Kyambogo University, and other local partners to develop an addendum to the Primary Teacher Education Curriculum to ensure the early grade reading initiatives introduced by the projects are incorporated into the pre-service teacher training program.

CIES 2018 Presentation, given by Rehemah Nabacwa. This evaluation looks at a large scale reading program in Uganda using a randomized control trial to look at the impact of the School Health and Reading (SHRP) program. This study combines a rigorous external evaluation methodology with the use of a range of 12 different language-specific literacy assessments applied in the 12 languages and communities supported by SHRP. We conclude that significant reading gains are possible in complex, large scale mother tongue reading programs, even within the complex language settings of Uganda. The findings point to language complexity as an important predictor of reading acquisition.

CIES 2018 Presentation, given by Peter Muyingo. Education programming worldwide is beginning to include dedicated activities to support a positive school culture. There is evidence, mostly from high income countries, that a positive school climate is associated with improved learning outcomes and attendance, and reduced violence prevalence. In this presentation we will discuss some of the challenges we faced in adapting a school climate survey from the United States for use in an impact study for a program in Uganda that has a dedicated focus on building a positive school climate. The school climate survey was adapted as one of a variety of instruments to be used in the impact evaluation of the USAID/Uganda funded Literacy Achievement and Retention Activity. This Activity, a working partnership with the Uganda Ministry of Education, focuses on improving early grade reading and retention in 28 districts and 2698 schools in Uganda.

CIES 2018 Presentation, given by Rachel Jordan. In Uganda, and many other settings, too few children are learning how to read. In response, countries have embarked on national reading programs. Unfortunately, these programs are rarely evaluated rigorously at a large scale. This paper is based on larger research that efforts looked at the impact of a large-scale mother tongue reading program in Uganda using a randomized control trial in twelve language communities. It also looked at the differences in mother tongue reading acquisition attributed to linguistic differences, differences in program implementation and socioeconomic differences in the communities. The research points to language complexity as an important predictor of reading acquisition. Aspects of this complexity (transparency, tonal markings, agglutination) will be discussed in the 12 languages supported by current early grade reading reform efforts. Tying into language mapping efforts, the paper will also discuss the realities of language mapping on the ground where, for example, regardless of the predominant language spoken by the school community the school language of instruction is decided at the district level.

This CIES 2018 presentation describes the Journeys Program, which focuses on building a positive and supportive school climate for learning which is free from violence. The program was developed under the USAID/Uganda funded Literacy Achievement and Retention Activity, which simultaneously supports the Ministry of Education goals of improving early grade reading and retention and eliminating violence against children in schools. The presentation was given by RTI's Geri Burkholder.

The Uganda Early Years Enrolment and Repetition Study presentation references the work undertaken by RTI International to examine repetition rates and over-enrolment in primary 1 in Uganda, to analyze the financial impact of these inefficiencies in the education sector, and present a cost projection model to examine the impact of investments made to pre-primary and early primary.

The Uganda Early Years Study policy brief describes the findings and presents policy recommendations from the associated research study funded by the British Department for International Development. The study investigates the magnitude of repetition in primary 1 in Uganda, examines the financial impact of repetition, and presents a cost-projection model which underscores the importance of investing in pre-primary and early primary education in reducing inefficiency.

The British Department for International Development (DFID) has partnered with the Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) to conduct empirical research on inefficiencies in the Ugandan education system. This research will help the Ministry better understand the severity, causes, and consequences of an enrolment bulge in early primary classes in Uganda. Specifically, this study is investigating the magnitude of repetition in primary 1. It encompasses a nationally representative sample of pupils, and uses information from interviews with pupils, parents/guardians, and teachers.

The primary 4 English lessons are structured around a genre that is explored in reading and writing activities. Activities are provided for word study, vocabulary, grammar, oral language, and the writing process. Transition lessons are a distinct section to support learning academic language. They use informational text structure, glossaries, graphics and bold terms which will be helpful when engaging with textbooks in other subjects.

This circular from the Uganda Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) describes a new mandatory requirement under the "National Strategy and Action Plan on Violence Against Children in Schools (VACiS), the Reporting, Tracking, Referral and Response (RTRR) Guidelines on Violence Against Children in Schools, and the Alternative to Corporal Punishment Guidelines" to use the Journey's handbooks developed by RTI under the USAID/LARA program in primary schools. The circular makes recommendations for including a range of education sector stakeholders in ensuring sufficient time spent using the materials.