Afghanistan: Consultants (Subject Syllabi Development)

Background and Context

Impact the teaching and learning of key subjects across the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan through helping develop subject area syllabi. UNESCO is seeking consultants for one or more of the following subject areas: Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Science, Arts, English, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and Physical Education.

A relevant, high quality curriculum is essential to ensuring education systems equip learners with the attitudes, skills, knowledge, and values to participate and contribute meaningfully to their communal and economic contexts. Whilst acknowledging the enormous progress made since 2002 in expanding access to education to all groups within society, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA) now considers the improvement of quality in its education system to be a key priority over the next five years. Underpinned by broader concerns about learner achievement, the Government also seeks to improve the preparedness of youth for employment and to better ensure its education systems foster the inclusiveness needed for continued national reintegration, in part by revisions and improvements to the education system. The third National Education Strategic Plan (NESP III), positions improved quality alongside continued expansion of access to education and sector-wide management reform as its guiding priorities through to 2021. A critical component of quality improvement is comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum reform.

Following a request from the Ministry of Education (MoE) in 2015, UNESCO has been working in partnership with the MoE to develop a Curriculum Framework for General Education (Curriculum Framework), an Afghan Life Competencies Framework (ALCF) and subject area syllabi through its Capacity Development for Education 2030 (CapED) program and with support from UNICEF. With the draft Curriculum Framework and ALCF completed, UNESCO is currently working in partnership with MoE technical working groups to develop subject area syllabi for each of the following subject areas: Islamic Studies, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Science, Arts, English, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and Physical Education. These subject area syllabi will be used to inform the teaching and learning of those subjects, as well as the development of textbooks and classroom resources, across Afghanistan. The subject area syllabi are in differing stages of progress and require further development and refinement prior to being endorsed by the MoE.

UNESCO requires consultants with deep subject matter and pedagogical expertise to assist the further development of subject-specific syllabi in one or more of the following seven subject areas:

1. Mathematics

2. Science and Technology

3. Social Science

4. Arts

5. English

6. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

7. Physical Education.

The consultants will be required to work with UNESCO staff and the MoE technical working groups to develop, refine and complete syllabi in the designated subject areas in line with the draft Curriculum Framework and ALCF. The assignment will involve a mix of in-country (in Afghanistan) and remote delivery.

The consultants will work under the supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor – Curriculum Reform and will work with experts engaged by UNESCO for other aspects of curriculum work (including the Chief Technical Advisor II, Project Manager – Curriculum Reform, and the consultant for the designated subject area), and MoE staff leading the process of subject area syllabi development.

The consultants will perform the following duties:

1. Provide remote technical advisory services to review draft documents, plan in-country support and to overall improve, correct and endorse the subject syllabi with the subject-specific technical working group

2. Provide daily technical advisory services (whilst in-country) to the subject-specific technical working group members and effectively coach the working group members in order to produce the subject-specific syllabi aligned with the draft Curriculum Framework of General Education and the draft Afghan Life Competencies Framework, as required by the MOE;

3. Draw on best international subject syllabi to enhance the subject syllabi and support the development of the subject-specific technical working group

4. Guide stakeholders (MoE staff, technical working groups) on making choices leading to the development of guidelines for textbook development consistent with international best practices; and

5. Build capacity of Ministry staff through collaborative engagement across all planned activities.

Overview of working commitments

Consultants are expected to provide up to 30 days of technical assistance through a mix of in-country and remote delivery. A condition of appointment is the ability to be located in Afghanistan to provide technical advisory services at a 10-day intensive workshop in the last two weeks of November.

Pre-departure

Duration:

Up to 5 days

Time frame: October 2018

Delivery mode: Remote (i.e. can be undertaken in home-country)

Responsibilities:

· Review subject syllabi developed to-date against international best practice

· Create Plan of Action for technical working group to review and improve syllabus

Important note:

Consultants must allow sufficient time to ensure the Plan of Action and any other key documents / slides are translated into national languages (Pashto and Dari) prior to the intensive two week working group session.

Intensive technical working group session

Duration: 10 working days (2 weeks)

Time frame: Two weeks in November

Delivery mode: In-country; based in Afghanistan

Responsibilities: Support technical working group to:

· Create achievement objectives for each level

· Review and improve syllabus

· Share best practices on activity-based learning.

· Provide guidelines and coaching to support the development of textbooks

Post-intensive working group session

Duration: Up to 5 days

Time frame: December 2018

Delivery mode: Remote (i.e. can be undertaken in home-country)

Responsibilities:

· Produce report outlining enhancements made to the subject area syllabi during intensive technical working group session

· Refine syllabus to second draft stage

· Identify next steps / recommendations towards finalisation of syllabus.

Final review

Duration: Up to 10 days

Timeframe: January-March 2019

Delivery mode: Remote (i.e. can be undertaken in home-country)

Responsibilities:

· Support working group to refine and enhance syllabus towards finalisation and endorsement by the MoE.

Deliverable:

Month

Deliverables:

October 2018

1. · Review subject syllabi developed to-date against international best practice.
2. · Create Plan of Action for technical working group to review and improve syllabus.

November 2018

1. Support technical working group to:
2. Create achievement objectives for each level
3. Review and improve syllabus
4. Share best practices on activity-based learning.
5. Provide guidelines and coaching to support the development of textbooks.

December 2018

1. Produce report outlining enhancements made to the subject area syllabi during intensive technical working group session.
2. Refine syllabus to second draft stage.
3. Identify next steps / recommendations towards finalisation of syllabus.

March 2019

1. Support working group to refine and enhance syllabus towards finalisation and endorsement by the MoE.

Competencies

A successful candidate will be required to demonstrate the following competencies:

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Teamwork

Innovation

Results focus

Planning and organizing

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

For detailed information please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework

Required Qualifications

Education:

· An advanced university degree in education (MA, MEd);

· Curriculum development qualification is an asset;

· A qualification in the subject is desirable.

Work Experience:

· At least 10 years of relevant work experience in teaching, teacher professional development, curriculum development in nominated subject areas;

· Deep technical expertise in subject-specific education;

· Curriculum development particularly in subject-specific area in a formal education sector;

· Textbook development and/or experience in developing learning materials.

Skills

· Strong background and familiarity with curriculum development in one or more subject-specific areas;

· Proven leadership and facilitation experience in developing subject-specific curriculum;

· Strong sensitivity and adaptability (cultural, gender, religion, race and nationality);

· Ability to interact with a wide range of high–level stakeholders;

· Excellent strategic and analytical skills;

· High-level drafting and delivery in English.

Conditions of Work:

The consultant must be available for and will be required to travel to Afghanistan to undertake an intensive two-week (10 working days) workshop in the final two weeks of November 2018. Other responsibilities under this contract can be undertaken remotely, including by email, phone calls and virtual meetings.

Supervisory Arrangements:

The consultancy will be directly supervised by the Cap-ED Programme Coordinator and under the overall supervision of the Chief of Education and the Director and Representative of the UNESCO Office in Afghanistan.

Candidates are requested to send their application, including a CV and cover letter (in English) before midnight (Afghanistan time), 9^th October, 2018 to k.human-resource@unesco.org.