Research & Learning Three-year quasi-experimental study finds children gain as much as half a year equivalent of additional schooling

The Quasi-Experiment

To assess learning improvements throughout Opportunity International EduFinance’s three-year program with affordable non-state schools, EduFinance collected a baseline dataset using the Uwezo learning assessment in early 2021 from a sample of 131 schools that had recently joined the Education Quality program. The exercise included students from a further 70 control schools.

• 2021 This baseline found that just 50% of Grade 2 students could read a story in English at Grade 2 level, 49.5% could read a story in Kiswahili, and 41.9% could do basic division.
• 2023 The schools continued to participate in the Education Quality program through 2023 and as schools were completing the program, EduFinance, together with external data collector ziziAfrique, conducted the endline data collection exercise to conclude the longitudinal quasiexperimental study. The endline included 4,173 students of similar grade levels.