Curriculum Adviser- Development of the Accelerated School Readiness Curriculum in Kiribati

 

The UNICEF Pacific office in Kiribati is looking to engage a Curriculum Advisor for the Development of the Accelerated School readiness Curriculum in Kiribati

 External Kiribati Curriculum Adviser MoE Final.doc

 Kiribati Curriculum Adviser 2018 EOI.doc UN Personal History Form.docx

 

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

For every child, Education

Studies show that at least half of the educational achievement gaps between poor and non-poor children already exist at pre-primary entry. Children from low-income families are more likely to start school with limited language skills, health problems, and social and emotional problems that interfere with learning. The larger the gap at school entry, the harder it is to close. If children are to read proficiently by grade four and to grow into healthy adolescents and productive adults” wise investments in the early years must be made.

Recognizing that school readiness begins at birth, goes beyond learning the alphabet and includes social-emotional, cognitive, language, literacy and physical development as well as a child's ability to maintain focus on a task and show interest and curiosity in learning, the proposed project will build on home experience to facilitate a smooth transition to formal schooling and prepare children with early learning acquisition that supports their learning in primary education.

 

The sustainable development goals (SDG) commitment to early childhood development (ECD) signals that ECD is a priority for the 21st century. SDG Target 4.2 states that by 2030 countries should ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality ECD, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education. Research has confirmed the benefits of universal pre-primary education.

 

The Ministry of Education in Kiribati has embarked on an innovative approach to make pre-primary education for all five year olds accessible, through provision of a six weeks school readiness programme that would allow equal footing for all children who will be entering Year one at age six.

 

This innovation contributes to the ESSPs Goal 8 to foster the development of early childhood education and its following twin strategy to:  implement and supervise an appropriate legislative and regulatory framework for the development of early childhood education and design and develop a supportive operational environment for early childhood education.

Considering that almost three-quarters of three- to five-year-olds in Kiribati (70 per cent) are at home and do not have access to any organized early learning opportunity, and rates of participation of six-year-olds in Year 1 are low (only 64 per cent), the proposed project aims to pilot a model of free universal pre-primary education for five-year-olds (those ready to enter Year one at age 6) using the existing infrastructure and teachers during the two months summer holidays (December-January). This will mean supporting the development of a specialized curriculum that would address the core learning areas that would support children's holistic readiness.

 

Teachers selected by the MoE will be trained on using the school readiness curriculum and will deliver the programme during the longest school holiday period.   An awareness raising campaign will be developed to inform the families about the programme and its benefits, and to ensure families would send their children to school during the school holiday. 

The pilot will increase the access of this age group to early learning and facilitate a smooth transition from pre-primary to primary education while ensuring children are ready to commence school at the appropriate and mandated age of six years old.

How can you make a difference?

To lead the development of a developmentally appropriate accelerated school readiness curriculum for children who will start school at age 6 using play-based strategies to achieve defined learning outcomes, develop teachers guide and the supplementary learning materials for children.

The Curriculum Adviser based at MoE will work in in consultation with the Ministry of Education and the Curriculum Unit and the Kiribati Teachers College (KTC). Specifically, the consultant will:

 

1. Develop an appropriate six weeks pre-primary curriculum-syllabus (Teaching plan) with Teachers Guide, oriented towards child-centred approach, through play based activities, encouraging holistic and active learning, with focus on social and emotional skills, vernacular language and numeracy.
2. Develop learning materials for pre-primary education to be used in classrooms (in Kiribati), with focus on social-emotional and emergent literacy skills.
3. Develop a Trainers manual and train master trainer™ on the new accelerated curriculum and its delivery through  in-service training of existing Grade 1 & 2 teachers, and design roll out plan (‘In-service Professional Development Plan).

 To qualify as a/an [champion or advocate] for every child you will have…

• Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree (Master Degree or equivalent) in Education in Curriculum  development or a Masters in Curriculum and Educational Technology
  • A relevant post-graduate qualification in literacy and multilingual approach and innovative teaching methodologies is also essential.

  Experience and Skills

  • At least  6 years  of experience in curriculum related activities, including
  • curriculum framework development, and assessment and evaluation of teaching and
  • learning resources
  • Experience in early childhood education
  • Substantial experience in undertaking similar tasks in collaboration with Ministries of education and Teacher Training Institutions
  • Substantial experience of consultative processes for educational reform
  • Good understanding of the gender transformative potential of education through
  • curriculum delivery desirable
  • Knowledge of Kiribati or Pacific education systems highly desirable
  • Understanding of crosscutting issues: gender mainstreaming, special needs, health, WASH, HIV/AIDS, child protection and a preparedness to incorporate awareness of these policies into Program planning and support activities
  • Understanding UNICEF mandate, development and education policies, as well as broader objectives, including Aid Effectiveness principles.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships,
  • Previous working experience in the Pacific will be an asset.

  Languages: Excellent written and spoken English required, familiarity with local language (Kiribati) an asset

  Competencies:

  • High level interpersonal and relationship-building skills
  • Ability to communicate effectively with persons of various cultures and disciplines
  • Ability to identify risks and to develop strategies to mitigate them
  • Ability to determine and review priorities and meet deadlines
  • Management & leadership skills including coaching and mentoring
  • High quality computing skills.
  • Willingness to undertake travel within Solomon Islands as required.
  • Diplomatic skills to liaise with counterparts and different stakeholders.
  • Good analytical, negotiating, and advocacy skills;

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty,

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.