International Consultant - Conceptual Framework and the Roadmap for developing a School Readiness Assessment System
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights as a calling. UNICEF fosters career growth with diverse professional and personal development opportunities.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide essential technical support to the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) in Lao PDR. The consultant will be responsible for developing a comprehensive conceptual framework and a detailed roadmap for the establishment of a robust school readiness assessment system. This initiative will build upon the MoES's existing School Readiness Competencies (SRC), specifically targeting children aged 5 to under 6 years, who are one year away from entering primary grade one. The goal is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of early childhood education by ensuring children are adequately prepared for primary school, moving beyond mere access data to objectively assess learning and developmental status.
Responsibilities
The consultant will develop a conceptual framework for a school readiness assessment system, aligning with the MoES's existing School Readiness Competencies (SRC) for children aged 5 to under 6. This framework will outline the theoretical underpinnings and methodological approaches for assessing children's development across the five domains: physical development, cognition, language, emotional development, and social development. Concurrently, the consultant will create an actionable roadmap detailing the steps, timelines, resources, and stakeholders required for the development, piloting, and eventual implementation of the assessment system. This roadmap will include strategies for data collection, analysis, and utilization to inform policy and practice in early childhood education. The consultant will also provide technical guidance to MoES officials throughout the process, facilitating workshops and consultations to ensure buy-in and capacity building. Emphasis will be placed on integrating the assessment system with existing educational data management systems and ensuring its sustainability. The work will involve reviewing relevant literature, analyzing existing MoES policies and strategies, and considering best practices from other countries. The final deliverables will include the conceptual framework document and the implementation roadmap, presented in a clear and accessible format for MoES stakeholders.
Work Experience
A minimum of 8 years of professional work experience in early childhood development, early childhood education, or educational measurement and assessment. Experience within the education sector in Laos or Southeast Asia is considered a strong asset.
Skills
Developing ECE or child development assessment, Assessment systems development, Implementation of roadmaps, Knowledge of Lao PDR education sector, Understanding of Lao PDR ECE policies and strategies, Technical support, Framework development, Project planning, Stakeholder engagement, Data analysis, Report writing, Capacity building