ECE Consultant at Inspire Educate and Empower Rwanda (IEE Rwanda) (Deadline:19th December 2021)

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ECE CONSULTANT

Background and Purpose

The Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) of 2018/19 -2024/25 operationalized Rwanda Government aspirations in national policy frameworks such as the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1). The ESSP has a range of interconnected objectives intended to produce citizens who are lifelong learners; to promote development skills, core values, attitudes, functional competencies, and professional knowledge and skills as embedded in the basic education Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC). These skills are necessary for Rwanda to attain the desired knowledge and technology-based economy.

Early learning is acclaimed for early skill building for children including Foundational Literacy and Numeracy. The ESSP emphasizes the need to support Pre-primary as a priority sector. Particularly the ESSP recognizes Early learning as the foundation for future learning. Strategically, the ESSP emphasizes the need for promotion of science subjects at pre-primary, primary, and lower secondary level to capture learners’ interest and stimulate the choice of science subjects at upper secondary level and beyond, so as to facilitate development of human resources who are able to transform Rwanda into a knowledge and technology-based economy. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) is one of the priorities of the ESSP and the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) STEM strategy. As part of its Education Support Plan, UNICEF is collaborating with Inspire Educate and Empower Rwanda (IEE) to model STEM in Pre-primary as an emerging priority, and in accordance with the STEM strategy which recommends that STEM starts being implemented from pre-primary.

To support MINEDUC and Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) to implement STEM appropriately, UNICEF in partnership with IEE, will pilot and field-test STEM in 10 pre-primary schools/ECE centres constructed with the support of UNICEF. ECE teachers will be trained on STEM kits to pave the way to STEM rollout. Additionally, teachers in pre-primary schools will be trained on using Early Childhood Development (ECD) kits provided by UNICEF to ensure appropriate usage to support children’s learning. To avoid recurrent costs of supplying more kits, teachers will be trained to make teaching and learning materials using locally available resources. Through this support, each of the 10 intervention schools will receive a STEM kit and over the course of this programme intervention, schools teachers will also be trained on the use of STEM guide and STEM kit.

Objective

Specifically, this consultancy aims to:

• Lead the implementation of STEM pilot in 10 pre-primary selected schools.
• Coordinate all activities related to piloting STEM and liaising with REB and UNICEF for technical inputs.

 The ECE Consultant will report daily to the Deputy Country Director with matrix to Head of Programs (IEE).

 Areas of implementation:

The project will be piloted in 10 schools in five districts: Nyabihu (3), Gasabo (1), Nyarugenge (2), Gisagara (2) and Rwamagana (2).The ECE Consultant will be based in Kigali (IEE Head Office) but with weekly travel to intervention schools to support and coach teachers.

Start date: January 2022 till August 2022.

 Minimum qualifications of Individual Consultant

1. Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Pedagogy, Educational Psychology, Science and Technology. High School Diploma with 10 years of experience in ECE in the mentioned fields will be considered.
2. At least 5 years of proven experience in coaching pre-pirmary/primary teachers or teaching in pre-primary or lower primary.
3. Excellent knowledge in developing lessons plans and teaching aids using locally available resources.
4. Familiarity with mentoring, coaching, and traning teachers.
5. Excellent knowledge of holistic child development and pragmatic approach of competence and play-based learning.
6. Strong communication and facilitation skills;
7. Proficiency in written and spoken Kinyarwanda is required, English or French would be an advantage.

Key responsabilities:

Project implementation (70%)

• Ensure ECE project implementation in 10 intervention schools is in conformity with REB standards and MINEDUC policies.
• Supported ECE teachers on daily basis to embed STEM in their lessons in compliance with REB pre-primary CBC.
• Train ECE teachers in selected schools on STEM and mentor them to successfully implement pre-primary CBC, with a focus on STEM.
• In collaboration with UNICEF and with IEE support, ensure all intervention schools have an environment conducive to STEM adapted to pre-primary children.
• Support ECE teachers to develop learning resources to use in classrooms (learning corners and display in class).
• Coach ECE teachers to develop STEM lessons plans and support them to implement those lessons plans on daily basis.
• Ensure child safeguarding and rights are respected during project implementation process.
• Train teachers on using STEM kit and mentor them to produce additional local teaching and learning resources to supplement STEM kit.
• In collaboration with the supervisor and the project’s technical lead, ensure STEM project in ECE contributes to the overall MINEDUC STEM strategy.
• Collect, compile and document relevant information about STEM based on achievements and observation made during project implementation to inform STEM guide review and adaptation.
• Undertake STEM guide, kit and assessment tool reviews based on observations made during implementation.
• Be part of project monitoring through dedicated time to field visits, in collaboration with UNICEF, REB and IEE M&E staff, for evidence-based programming.
• Document best practices during project implementation and share them with partners.

M&E (20%)

• With IEE M&E support, ensure all activities in intervention schools are in conformity with plans and all activities are reported appropriately.
• Monitor implementation progress and undertake corrective measures to ensure the project goals are met.
• In close collaboration with UNICEF and REB, ensure STEM evidence-based programming in pre-primary schools is successful and scalable.
• Enhance learning and knowledge sharing through documentation and profiling of project milestones.

 Reporting (10%)

• Promote and abide to IEE policies, procedures, and code of conduct throughout implementation process.
• Produce quality reports and submit them in a timely manner.
• Proper documentation of success stories and reportany progress made against planned activities.
• Support teachers to keep proper records of material developed and keep records of steps involved in the development process of materials for future reference.
• Prepare and submit reports to the donors and partners on quarterly basis.

Application procedure

IEE is an equal opportunities employer. Interested candidates should send their applications to:  iee.job.hr@gmail.com before 19^th December 2021.

 Interested candidates are requested to submit two separate proposals:

(i) A Technical proposal with a cover letter highlighting their previous work experience relevant to the assignment and the attributes that make them suitable. The technical proposal should be accompanied by a CV with relevant references.

(ii) A Financial Proposal detailing all-inclusive itemized costs based on anticipated daily activities.

 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted to share their financial proposals.