Improving Learning in Uganda : Problematic Curriculum Areas, Teacher Effectiveness: Insights from National Assessments

The Uganda school system has expanded over the years resulting from mass education reforms at the primary - since 1997, and the lower secondary level - since 2007. This has enabled provision of key inputs to schools by Government which include tuition, trained teachers, school infrastructure, and learning materials. The curriculum for the primary level was also reviewed. However, completion rates and learning outcomes are still low which points to inefficiency and low quality of education provided. Current discourse on education is focused on the need to improve efficiency and quality of education. This study is therefore, an attempt to provide a comprehensive analysis of learning outcomes and teacher effectiveness, drawing from the nationally owned and multi-year assessment data sets for Uganda between 2006-2011.