According to Dr Sara Ruto, Regional Manager of Uwezo East Africa, ‘Despite significant gains in expanding access to primary schooling, actual literacy and numeracy outcomes remain significantly deficient across the region.’ While all countries do poorly, Kenyan children do relatively better than their counterparts in Tanzania and Uganda on all tests. Ugandan children performed the worst, but overtake Tanzanian students by the time they reach Standard 7. Children from low-income households perform the worst in all three countries and students in private schools do better than those in public schools, particularly in Tanzania. Despite the discouraging results, there is also cause to be hopeful.
The Guardian, la Tanzania, linaandika kuwa Serikali inapaswa kurudufu juhudi zake za kuboresha elimu ya msingi kupitia matokeo ya utafiti wa Uwezo wa Ufahamu na Hisabati Afrika Mashariki . Ikinukuu utafiti, makala inasisitiza kuwa, “wahitimu wengi wa shule za msingi Uganda, Kenya na Tanzania hawajui kusoma and hawawezi kufanya Hisabati zinazopaswa kufanywa na mwanafunzi wa darasa la pili.” Makala inatoa rai hakuna budi kutoa umuhimu unaostahili kwa kiwango cha elimu ya msingi kwa kuwa kwa watoto wengi wa Tanzania hiyo ndiyo elimu rasmi pekee watakayopata katika maisha yao.” Soma zaidi .