Parents send children to school because they expect them to learn the basic skills and competencies necessary to succeed in future. So Uwezo – instead of focusing on impressive numbers of classrooms built, teachers recruited, and books supplied asks the simple question ‘Are Our Children Learning?’, This large scale data collection exercise seeks to establish actual ability of our children in doing simple arithmetic as well as in reading in both Kiswahili and English.
Uwezo inaamini kuwa msingi wa elimu bora kwa watoto unapatikana kwa watoto kujifunza kwa kiwango na ubora unaotakiwa. Lakini, pamoja na jitihada za Serikali na wadau wengine kuboresha miundombinu na vifaa shuleni pamoja na kuajiri walimu, swali la msingi la kujiuliza ni: Je, watoto wetu wanajifunza? Tathmini ya Uwezo ni zoezi la kisayansi la nchi nzima linalolenga kukusanya takwimu ili kujua stadi na kiwango cha watoto wetu katika kusoma na kufanya hesabu. Utafiti huu unatathmini watoto kwa kiwango cha mtaala wa darasa la pili.