Abstract
This is a mid-term evaluation of the Tusome Pamoja (TP) Activity, which utilized key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and brief quantitative surveys (QSs) to investigate: 1) progress towards improving reading, writing, and arithmetic [also referred to by the Government of Tanzania (GOT) as the ?3Rs?]; 2) use of School Information System (SIS) to improve 3Rs; 3) internalization of capacity building and how to more effectively improve learning outcomes of the 3Rs; and 4) sustainability. The evaluation finds that quality reading materials have been designed and disseminated. The TP Activity and the GOT show commitment in working together to design and align materials. Capacity building activities have resulted in knowledge and attitude changes at the school and local government level, and some behavior change has occurred. Due to materials and training, gains appear to have been made in reading, teaching, and learning. Arithmetic has not yet been addressed because of funding limitations of the USAID Global Education Strategy at the time of this evaluation. Moving forward, SIS may support oversight of reading progress, but human and information and communications technology (ICT) challenges remain. Parents can also contribute to improving 3Rs and are motivated to help in schools; however, they require more training in order to understand how they can help their children master the 3Rs at home.