Only 2% of adolescents able to solve a problem,survey

Education Civil Society organisations have expressed concern over the alarmingly poor performance and absence of life skills and values among adolescents aged between 13 to 17 years.

This follows a countrywide survey done by the Regional Education Learning Initiative (RELI) in 20 districts representing all the regions of Uganda, involving 11,000 young people.

Only 2 percent could solve a problem, 9 percent were able to show respect for themselves and others, only 19 percent were self-aware, and only 6 percent were able to demonstrate collaboration in task handling.

In view of that, education stakeholders have called for the integration of life skills and values in the education curriculum after it emerged that the majority of young adolescents cannot solve a problem, demonstrate respect, collaborate with others and are not self-aware.

Their remarks came during the launch of the report on the assessment of life skills and values which depicts a dark future for the nation at large.

Dr Mary Goretti Nakabugo is the Executive Director of Uwezo Uganda said that the country faces an uncertain future if this trend persists amidst calls for a multi sectoral approach to the challenge.

Reacting to the damning report, the General Secretary of Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), Filbert Baguma said that there is need for a total change of the education system coupled with motivating teachers to change the trend.

“The findings show us that we need to transform our education system and that starts with the teachers who must be supported, motivated and facilitated in order to deliver since they have the capacity to nurture and assess the life skills and values.”

He added, “currently these values and skills are their but because they are not examined they are not assessed.”

Dr. John Mugo, Principal Investigator said "We cannot afford to discourage our children from asking questions. We need to encourage them to be creative and learn how to solve their day to day problems."

The assessment presents immense learning from organizations working together. Don't be disheartened by the percentages but look at where the children are in the journey." Dr. Mugo, added.

The survey was conducted in 7015 households from 700 enumeration areas.

Dan Kyagaba the Manager of the National Assessment Progress in Education-NAPE, said that currently UNEB is assessing soft skills because the requirement is under the lower grade curriculum adding that the findings give a lot to learn. He revealed that in 2024 UNEB, will come with an assessment tool for them.

Khushbakht Hijev, Adolescent Development Specialist, UNICEF hailed the study’s contribution to the conceptualization of life skills.

Dr. Grace Baguma Director National Curriculum Development Centre remarked that ,RELI , needed to have gone deeper to cut and assess them to see if they can get them conclusively ,however, noting that the life skills are integrative in nature and cannot be carefully separated from one another.

Sheema district in western Uganda demonstrated the highest level of self-awareness among adolescents while Kyegegwa posted the lowest rate at 0.0 percent.

The Uganda study , was conducted by Assessment of Life Skills and Values (ALiVE), an initiative of the Regional Education Learning Initiative (RELI).

Similar studies have been conducted in Kenya and Tanzania.

The assessment was conducted by 734 volunteers, 66 teacher trainees, 20 district coordinators, and 40 village coordinators, with support from the local leaders, and the ALiVE team.