UNICEF invites request for proposal from individual consultants to support ‘Teacher Education Scheme’ of Ministry of Human Resource Development

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background/ Rationale: The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 poses major challenges for improving the quality of teachers and for expanding institutional capacity in states to prepare professionally trained persons for becoming school teachers. The Government of India has initiated steps to revise the existing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Restructuring and Reorganization of Teacher Education. This Scheme was initiated in 1987 pursuant to the formulation of the National Policy on Education, 1986 which emphasized the significance and need for a decentralized system for the professional preparation of teachers, and it was in this context that District Institutes of Teacher Education (DIETs), Colleges of Teacher Education (CTEs) and Institutes of Advanced Study in Education (IASEs) were established.

Teacher education (TE) is a key intervention for improving the quality of teaching and learning and thus for achieving the goals of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009. However the present quality of teacher education systems and processes in India leave much to be desired in light of the requirements of the Act. The existing Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) in the country are little prepared to meet the enormous task of supplying huge numbers of trained teachers to the school system in order to meet RTE norms. Moreover, RTE requires bringing a paradigm shift in teachers’ educational beliefs and practice in terms of providing quality, child-centered, inclusive education to diverse learners, which also presents a major challenge for both pre-service and in-service teacher education.

MHRD has launched its revised Teacher Education Scheme which came into effect from 1 April 2012 until April 2017. As per guidelines of revised scheme, State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is responsible for putting together the respective State’s Five year Perspective Plan for Teacher Education.

Education section of UNICEF Assam, is providing technical support to SCERT, Assam in implementation of Restructuring and Reorganizing Teacher Education Scheme in Assam. UNICE, Assam is closely working with SCER, Assam to enhance the professional, interpersonal and personal capacities of teacher educators of DIETs and academic faculties of SCERT, Assam as a part of teacher’s education reforms. These initiatives are critical in terms of constant follow-up and collaboration with Government counterparts. UNICEF’s technical support in restructuring and reorganizing teacher education in Assam has also been highlighted in several platforms by the state government. In the similar lines a number of activities have been planned for 2017, which are important to ensure effective implementation of the Teacher Education Scheme in Assam.

Purpose and Objective of the consultancy: The purpose of the assignment is to provide technical support to Department of Elementary Education, SCERT, DIETs,CTE and IASEs Assam in implementation of Teacher Education Scheme as per guidelines of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Govt. of India. In view of this, the services of the consultant are of immense need to accomplish the tasks in time-bound manner. The strengthened partnerships of UNICEF with Government of Assam has further necessitated the need of a Teacher Education consultant.

Duty Station: Guwahati, Assam

Supervisor: Education Specialist, UNICEF Assam

Major Tasks to be accomplished:
> Technical Co-ordination:
— Support and coordinate development and implementation of Teacher Education Scheme, approved plans of SCERT, DIETs, CTE and IASEs;
— Facilitate coordination among SCERT, SSA, Department of Education and UNICEF for strengthening teacher education and training.
— Support SCERT in documentation and developing/training modules, teaching learning material, and relevant documents for enhancing the quality of education.

> Capacity-building:
— Develop and facilitate capacity-building plans/training for teacher educators, teachers, and leaders of TEIs and academic faculty of SCERT;
— Support SCERT and SSA in planning and implementation of interventions under Inclusive Education in Assam;
— Support SCERT and SSA for strengthening Pre-Primary Education;

> Supportive Supervision & Monitoring:
— Together with other field functionaries of SCERT, undertake regular monitoring field visits to understand the quality of implementation and provide feedback for corrective measures;
— Develop monitoring mechanism /reporting format, assist in data compilation, analysis and reporting etc.;
— Provide technical assistance for preparation of documents/ regular reports / resource materials etc.;

> Inter-sectoralConvergence:
— Liaise with line departments’ viz. SCERT, DIET, CTE, IASE, and Department of Education of Universities to improve quality of inputs for education in their respective programs including initiatives such as teaching-learning methodology.
— Participate in meetings/workshops pertaining to Teacher Education program.
— Perform any other duties and responsibilities as directed by supervisor from time to time.

Payment Schedule:
The contract is expected to start from 20 March 2017 and get over by 20 December 2017

Deliverables with Timeline:

1. Training Need Assessment  Tools are developed  for preparing five-year perspective plan  on teacher training & teacher education
2. Strategy document for implementation of  D.El.Ed through Open Distance Learning (ODL)
Timeline: 30 April 2017

3. Training need Analysis Document
4. Progress report on Five Year Teacher Education Plans( 2012-17)
Timeline: 30 June 2017

5. Teacher training Module on Disaster Risk Reduction and management
6. Progress Monitoring Report of Multi-Grade Multi Level (MGML) Teaching Learning approach
7. Five Year Perspective Plan  on Teacher training & teacher education
Timeline: 30 August 2017

8. Workshop and submission of report on revision of D.El.Ed Curriculum from IE Perspective including issues related to DRR and safety of children from violence and all form of abuse.
9. Development of a comprehensive strategy and road map for strengthening KA Sreni – Pre Primary Education
Timeline: 30 October 2017

10. Submission of  10 Case Studies on  Teacher education from the field
11. Progress Monitoring Report Multi-Grade Multi Level (MGML) Teaching-Learning Approach
Timeline: 20 December 2017

Official Travel Involved: The consultant needs to travel within and outside the state for accomplishing the tasks as per deliverables and as and when required.

Qualifications/Specialization and Skills Required:
— Post Graduate in Social Sciences, or Social Wok or Elementary or Secondary Education.
— Minimum seven years relevant work experience/ field experience /familiar with the practical application of planning/field coordination and management in elementary education programs / projects.
— Minimum seven years of experience working with Government t/non-governmental agencies/ UNICEF or other UN agencies.
— Ability to conduct educational survey/ study and data analysis.
— Working knowledge of MS Office, Excel and PowerPoint essential.
— Good written and verbal communication skill, negotiation and facilitation skills
— Fluent in speaking and writing, English.
— Report writing and documentation skills.
— Ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners and ability to work in a multi- cultural environment.

Technical Evaluation Criteria:
Criterion for short- listing of applicants for Interview:

In order to get short- listed for the interview, all candidates will have to meet the educational qualification and will have to demonstrate significant relevant experience.
— Educational Qualifications (20)
— Relevant Experience (20)
— Interview (30)
— Competencies (10)
— Sample of previous work (10)
— Experience in Bilateral/International/UN agencies (10)

* Total Score should be 100. Minimum overall qualifying score should be 70 out of 100.
* Minimum qualifying score for the Interview is 15 out of 20 in (Educational Qualification) and 15 out of 20 in (Relevant Experience), to be shortlisted for the Interview.

Application Procedures:
— Qualified female/male candidates are requested to please indicate their ability and availability to undertake the terms of reference above.
— We request you to please inform us where you have seen this advertisement.
— Your application should be sent to guwahati.consultants@unicef.org by COB 25 January 2017 with subject line ” State Consultant: Teacher Education, Education Programme (AS/EDU/2017/02)” in separate files consisting of:

* An application letter
* P11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at Form_State Consultant_UNICEF)
* A financial proposal in PDF format indicating deliverable based fee as per template attached. Please mention your name in the file name while saving. Please find the document below.
* Sample of Previous Work

Last Date to apply: 25 January 2017

Note:
— Final selection will be done on the basis of aggregate of all scores out of a total of 100.
— Final selection will be done on the basis of aggregate of all scores out of a total of 100.
— Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for written test/interview (if applicable).
— The financial proposals of only those candidates, who are found technically responsive, will be opened/Considered.
— Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
— Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
— Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.

For any clarifications, please contact:
UNICEF
Office for Assam
House No 27, Basisthapur Bylane No 3
Beltola Road, Guwahati – 781028
Assam
Email: guwahati.consultants@unicef.org