Adapting Assessment into Policy and Learning (ADAPT): Adolescent 21st century skills in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania

The International Monetary Fund projects that by 2035, more young Africans will be entering the workforce each year compared to the rest of the world, emphasizing the need for students to learn not only basic reading and arithmetic skills, but also skills that will empower them to face a world that is continually changing. Often called soft, non-cognitive, or life skills, 21st century skills include competencies such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity, all of which can be learned and transferred from school to work.

While there is evidence on how to address 21st century skills within technical and vocational training programs in sub-Saharan Africa, there is limited information on how to pursue this within basic education programs and curricula. There are gaps in how to use assessments to incorporate relevant skills within school systems and curricula; mechanisms for measuring and validating knowledge, skills, competencies, and flexibility in assessment practice; and learning assessment tools designed for use in low-resource settings.

This project will build on the lessons of a learning assessment model known as the Assessment of Life Skills and Values in East Africa (ALiVE) that focuses on the long-term goal of helping education systems to assess critical 21st century skills and use assessment data to improve curricula. ALiVE has been designed to be a simple, rigorous and easy-to-use tool that is feasible and affordable for in-school and non-formal education settings at a national scale. The project will focus on building a robust knowledge-management system to embed the ALiVE measures of 21st century skills to develop/improve programs and practices in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The project’s intended outcome is knowledge that is available and usable, and enhanced government capacity to strengthen the link between learning assessment data and curriculum design, adaptation, and delivery at the national level.

This project is funded through the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovations Exchange call for proposals in East, West, and Southern Africa entitled “Generating and mobilizing innovative knowledge for regional education challenges”.