Consultancy to Conduct a Quick Evaluative Study About Teachers and
Students’ Mastery of Issues related to Life Skills Education
I-Background
1. Life skills education is an important aspect in the educational experience of a child because not only does it allow him or her to develop and hone behaviors that are considered socially acceptable, but it also provides the child with the knowledge and skills necessary to face challenges in their daily lives and to make both mature and responsible decisions. The importance of life skills education as part of the curriculum is further highlighted in two of the objectives of the National Plan of Education For All, which recognize life skills education as a cross-cutting issue that should be an integral part of an equitable and quality education at every level.
2. In the Angolan context, even though the existing curriculum contains aspects related to life skills education, there is a dearth of data regarding 1) the relevance of the themes covered in the curriculum to the Angolan realities, 2) the effectiveness of the instructional strategies used to teach the content of the life skills curriculum, and 3) the level of students’ success in learning these skills.
3. Further, the lack of a systematic monitoring and evaluation system makes it even more difficult not only to ascertain the level of teachers’ mastery of the themes covered in the curriculum and subsequently their ability to transmit the intended knowledge and skills to their students, but it is also difficult to assess how well students are learning and using the said skills in their daily lives.
4. Consequently, given the importance of life skills education as part of an equitable and quality education as previously established, it is necessary to conduct a quick evaluative study about teachers and students’ mastery of issues related to life skills education as well as the methodologies used in the teaching of these skills.
5. This study will help document best practices, weaknesses, and challenges related to life skills education, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of education in Angola.
6. The findings of this study will be used to prepare a work plan highlighting the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and UNICEF over the next five years (2015-2019). This work plan will focus, among others, on the design and revision of training materials for life skills education intended for teachers at early childhood education centers as well as those who teach at the primary and first cycle of secondary levels.
II-Overall Objectives
This study aims to:
• Provide a general overview of life skills education in Angola
• Conduct a quick assessment of the knowledge and skills of a few teachers and students in the areas of life skills education
• Observe and assess the instructional strategies used for life skills education and devise strategies to monitor student learning.
• Identify effective strategies to improve the quality of the teaching of life skills.
III- Specific Objectives
• Conduct a quick study to determine the knowledge and skills of a few teachers and students in the area of life skills education
• Assess the content of the curriculum of life skills education
• Identify and document best practices, weaknesses, as well as challenges in the teaching and learning of life sills
• Assess the instructional strategies some teachers use for like skills education as well as the methodologies they use to assess student learning.
• Formulate recommendations that will help improve the quality of teaching and learning of life skills.
IV- Methodology
This research will be a case study and will use both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. To ensure a diverse and representative sample, participants will include teachers and students in 24 schools selected from six Angolan provinces representing various regions and realities of the country.
The consultant will conduct data collection in the selected provinces with the assistance of members of a working group selected by the Ministry of Education (INIDE-National Institute for Research and Development of Education). To that end, the consultant will conduct a seminar to train the members of the working group about the data collection strategies to be used for this study.
V-Expected Results
This study will help:
• Identify existing documentation at the selected grade levels-- including curriculums, teachers guides, textbooks, etc.—which will undoubtedly help improve both the instruction and learning of life skills;
• Identify strategies to improve the content of instructional materials, which in turn will help improve the quality of life skills education in Angola.
• Revise the content of teacher training materials
VI. Deliverables
Product 1:a) Work plan along with a complete and detailed methodological design (research questions/hypotheses, instruments for data collection and data analysis )
b) Conduct a seminar to train members of the work group in collecting data
Product 2: Approved Preliminary report, which documents the findings of the study as they relate to the research questions/hypotheses
Product 3: Approved final report with the conclusions and recommendations.
Product 4: Conduct a workshop to present the findings and recommendations.
VII-Duration, Travel, and Cost of the Consultancy
This study will involve six provinces and will require the consultant to travel to the selected regions not only to have a first-hand knowledge of the context of the study, but also to supervise the data collection process. The study will last four (4) months and will occur between October 2014 and February 2015. Payments to the consultant will be made based on deliverables as outlined in Part VIII.
VIII-Schedule of Payments:
Payments to the consultant will be disbursed in three installments as follows:
a) Twenty percent (20%) of the total amount upon delivery of Product 1
b) Forty percent (40%) of the total amount upon delivery of Product 2
c) Forty percent (40%) of the total amount upon delivery of Products 3 and 4
IX- Work Location and Supervision
The INIDE, within the Ministry of Education, will provide the consultant with a work space as well as a computer with internet access. This consultancy will be supervised by a working group comprising representatives from the Ministry of Education (INIDE, INFQ-National Institute for Teacher Training, and DNASE-National Directorate of Social Action for Education) and UNICEF-Education Section. The consultant and the working group will discuss and determine the work schedule of the consultant.
X- Qualifications and Requirements
a) Advanced degree in education (Master’s in education, social science or related fields)
b) At least five years of experience in designing and conducting social research
c) Demonstrate a sound mastery of research methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods.
d) Computer skills, including internet navigation and various office applications.
e) Knowledge of the social, economic and education context of Angola in particular in the area of Early Childhood Education
f) Fluency in oral and written Portuguese is required. Knowledge of English is an asset.
g) Excellent management and organizational skills
h) Outstanding communication and facilitation skills
i) Proven ability to collaborate with government agencies, provincial authorities and also to work in rural areas.
How to apply:
XI- Application procedure
Application should include; a cover letter, an updated CV, a completed P-11 UN-form and a proposal for the methodology. Applications must be sent to: luandarecruitment@unicef.org.
Deadline for receipt of applications: 22 September 2014.