This study seeks to document an evidence-informed assessment of the interventions of the MoE in responding to return to school and to determine the effectiveness of student engagement.
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, a chance to learn
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT
The COVID -19 pandemic continues to reveal continuing debilitating effects on the world’s population making the future uncertain for many groups. Many can relate to the direct consequences of the disease and the interruption in essential services and increasing poverty and inequality. Fewer might recognise the devastating impact of the virus on children and adolescents. The severe global economic recession is impoverishing children and compounding deep pre-existing inequalities and exclusion, as the most disadvantaged households struggle to cope with the damaging fallout from the loss of jobs, livelihoods, incomes, and social services. The disruptions to essential services for children such as early childhood services, education, health care, nutrition, and child protection interventions - places which are the eyes and ears of many vulnerable children - become difficult to access and cause greater harm to children. The most noticeable harmful effect are the added risks in child health, increased poverty, intensified lag or developmental delay, parental stress, increased risk of violence against children, the widening of the digital divide and loss of learning. Undoubtedly, the significant loss of learning during school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the world has put millions of children and adolescents at risk of dropping out of school or enrolling late in any educational pathway.
Despite the significant efforts made by countries in the region, the World Bank estimates that children and adolescents who have returned to school have been delayed, on average, between one and 1.8 years. This could mean a 12% reduction in their income-generating capacity.
The Guyana Situation
In Guyana, the outbreak of the coronavirus widened existing gaps in access to high-quality education, affected by the imbalance of trained teachers as well as the inability to have adequate numbers of teachers in all schools; inadequate and unequal resources among schools and between students and offerings for virtual education were varied or non-existent. This brought about a new segregation pattern, leading to system-wide education disruptions for all levels of learners and placed the gains in access and learning at high risk. According to the MoE, learners’ engagement during this time was further impacted because teachers from the hinterland and remote riverine areas were at an even greater disadvantage since neither they nor their learners had access to devices and an internet connection. The result nationally was that there were large numbers of learners (51%) who went unengaged for the better part of two years, and only 2% of students who were engaged online came from the hinterland (1502).
The 2021 Public Expenditure Review in Guyana indicated that the country risks losing between 0.9 and 1.1 Learning Adjusted Years of School (LAYS) per student on average, due to elevated dropout rate and learning loss. If not addressed, it is estimated that there will be an average reduction in future earnings of USD 791 per student per year. The present value of all future lost earnings across Guyana is estimated at USD 1.2 billion (GYD 256 billion).
It is within this complex context that the MoE in Guyana seeks to improve on suitable recovery and building back better strategies that can help not only recover but accelerate results for children in the primary school system. While seeking to rebuild better and foster more inclusive and sustainable growth, the main concern for Guyana is to move beyond the heavy toll of the pandemic, and make the priority, a primary school’s system which responds to the varied needs of its children to rise above the massive shock experienced and to ensure a future for smooth transitioning and successful completion of the school cycle.
The MoE, has consulted with UNICEF to take the lead on the execution of this study. It is from this background that UNICEF seeks to have a consultant to conduct same.
2. Purpose, Objective and Scope of Study
Purpose of Study
This study seeks to document an evidence-informed assessment of the interventions of the MoE in responding to return to school and to determine the effectiveness of student engagement.
Objective
This assessment seeks to:
• identify the varied interventions, by the Ministry of Education to address the return to school and learning loss and. determine the effectiveness of these interventions
• review the reports of learning loss assessments, to identify sub-national (Regional Education) trends and human-interest stories/FGDs to glean and discuss variables affecting children’s learning.
• identify the best practices, being implemented and those that may need to be enhanced or reviewed.
Scope
This study will examine all dimensions of the effectiveness, including cost, of the interventions of student attendance, engagement, and wellbeing since 2020. The study will focus on grades 2, 4 and 6 in primary schools, in all ten administrative regions of Guyana.
3. METHODOLOGY
To ensure a thorough assessment of the effectiveness and impact of the varied interventions, by the Ministry of Education to address the return to school and learning loss in the Primary School System a mixed-method KAP study is being commissioned.
Phase 1: Inception: Desk review, development of research instruments, and submission of the inception report
A mixed-method approach will be applied in the study combining qualitative and quantitative components to ensure complementary strengths and non-overlapping weaknesses. The analysis is expected to build on information collected from a variety of sources through different methods including review of administrative data, primary data collection from Parents, teachers, representatives of Ministry of Education/ service providers, and others. It should critically examine the information gathered and synthesize it objectively.
A Desk Review of relevant documents/reports from the MoE. A review of literature will include but not limited to relevant materials listed below which will be made available to the Consultant. The Consultant is expected to review and reference all literature cited in the inception and final reports. The Consultant will, on his/her own accord, source other materials. MoE and UNICEF will make the following available:
- Reports of assessments conducted by the classroom teachers
- Reports submitted by UNICEF and the MoE to the Global Partnership for Education
- Report prepared for the Transforming Education Summit
- Report of National Assessments at Grade 6 over the research period
- Impact stories
The primary data will be collected through in-depth, Key informant interviews, focus group discussion, and case studies. All data collection instruments should be developed and pretested in the inception phase. The consultant is expected to ensure that the methodology allows for exploring the views of different stakeholders, Parents/Guardians, community members, leaders, social service providers, MoE and UNICEF. Subject to evolving COVID-19 social distancing regulations, the data collection methods will be reviewed before data collection.
Phase 2: Data collection
The Consultant is expected to:
• Conduct KII and FGDs with Teachers, Administrators, Parent, etc., MoE, UNICEF and other key stakeholders.
• Manage all data in the field in accordance with principles of anonymity and confidentiality. The safety of data during the data collection phase will be the total responsibility of the Consultant.
• Collect the necessary data and conduct the appropriate analyses.
An analytical framework will be developed by the consultant, outlining how each question will be answered/measured and how the information will be collected. This matrix will serve to ensure data collection coherence, facilitate data triangulation, analysis based on both quantitative and qualitative data, and participation of stakeholders.
Sampling
Given that this is a mixed-method Study, the sampling methodology is also mixed. For the selection of personnel who will participate, a non-probability purposive sampling will be used, since the study targets specific locations. The stratified sampling method will be used to select regions and communities.
Phase 3: Data Analysis and report writing.
The process will start at the inception phase when the consultant proposes a detailed methodology and the structure of the final report. Data analysis will progress simultaneously with the desk review and the data collection. The draft final report will be reviewed by MoE and UNICEF. The consultant will incorporate the comments received and submit the final report to UNICEF Guyana
Data analysis, report writing, and presentation of findings
The Consultant will be responsible for the data analysis, writing of the report, and presentation of findings to partners:
• For the qualitative data analysis, the grounded theory methodology will be used, involving verbatim transcription, coding of data, development of themes, comparison and contrasting of themes, and recording of findings and theoretical propositions.
• The main findings will be presented by the Consultant to Stakeholders and time will be allocated for comments.
• The writing of the report should be done in constant communication with UNICEF and MOE.
• The final report will be approved by MOE and UNICEF.
Validation of findings
Initial findings will be presented to stakeholders in a workshop to assess the validity/accuracy of the findings and their relevance to the Guyana context. Stakeholders will be invited during the workshop to provide feedback which will be documented and incorporated.
Ethical considerations
UNICEF supports evidence generation conducted in full compliance with ethical considerations, including during Study, research, and data collection. UNICEF supports data generation in full compliance with ethical considerations. No information, including data, that are reviewed for this assignment or data to which the Consultant is privileged during the assignment - as a direct or indirect result of being the Consultant for this assignment - can be shared and or be used by the Consultant neither can s/he approve the use of the whole or any part of it, for personal or professional purposes, without approval in writing from the Ministry of Education and UNICEF, jointly. The Consultant is required to disclose in writing any experience, of himself or his immediate family, which may give rise to a potential conflict of interest, and to deal honestly in resolving any conflict of interest which may arise during this assignment.
QUALITY ASSURANCE OF DELIVERABLES
A Technical Group, comprising of staff of the MoE and UNICEF at the country level, will be established to assure quality. The Group will assess the quality of all deliverables including instruments, processes, inception, and final reports. Comments by the technical group will be submitted according to deadline respecting the agreed chronogram. The following deliverables are expected at the proposed timelines.
Deliverable # of days % of Fee Deadline
Inception Report – the inception report will describe how the consultancy will be operationalised and annexed with:
• Instrument that will be used for data collection
• A list of logistical requirements for the study.
• A workplan for the study in the specific regions 7 20 By November 10
Data Collection
- Conduct data collection exercises, draft report and submitted to UNICEF
• Prepare PowerPoint presentation on the report and present to stakeholders 25 50 By December, 10
Final Report with accompanying PPT to be submitted to UNICEF after incorporating feedback from MoE and UNICEF. 8 30 By December, 20
PROFILE OF THE CONSULTANT
These terms of reference are for an individual consultant with at least 8 years of experience in conducting mixed method studies. The following characteristics are required and desirable.
Required:
This consultancy is for a consultant who must possess the following competencies:
• A Ph.D in education, sociology, or other relevant fields with a minimum of 8 years of professional experience in management in education or social development planning, research or related areas
Or
• A Master’s Degree in education, sociology, or other relevant fields and at least 12 years of professional experience in management in education or social development planning, research or related areas
• Clarity of understanding and conceptualization of education issues particularly as it relates to analysis of barriers and bottlenecks to educational participation, the development of requisite policies for at-risk children
• Strong research capacity and high-level analytical skills.
• Advanced proficiency in the use of data analysis software, such as SPSS, Microsoft applications and related software, specifically seamless application and use of MS word, Excel, and Access
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a clean record for timely delivery of high-quality products.
• Understanding of gender and equity challenges in relation to education and development and the application of gender / equity analysis to policy and planning in education.
Desirable:
- Previous work experience with the United Nations System.
- Experiential knowledge of Guyana’s sub-regional contexts.
Responsibilities of Key stakeholders
UNICEF, in collaboration with MoE, will:
• Meet initially with the Consultant to ensure a shared understanding of the assignment and to clarify expectations
• Follow-up and provide support to the consultant throughout the consultancy.
• Review inception report and provide feedback
• Review and approve the presentations and methodology
• Support pretesting and observe data collection missions, etc.
• Review and provide feedback on draft report after the study
• Approve the final report before final payment is made to the consultant
• Provide the consultant with materials/reports to support preparation for study.
The Consultant will:
• Meet initially with officials from MoE and UNICEF to discuss the consultancy and timelines in detail.
• review all documents as provided by MoE and UNICEF
• Submit inception report with all relevant annexes.
• Incorporate feedback from MoE and UNICEF and finalise inception report before proceeding to data collection.
• Conduct study (in person), and prepare a draft report (Microsoft word) and Prepare presentations (PPT)
• Prepare and submit a comprehensive final report that addresses all comments and recommendations made by MoE and UNICEF.
• The consultant shall act in a manner within the laws of the country of Guyana and the core values (CRITAS) of UNICEF.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Interested persons are asked to apply by October 15, 2022 online (link will be provided in Advertisement). Please ensure the application is completed thoroughly and the following is shared with the expression of interest. Successful candidates will be notified by the UNICEF Human Resources officer by the end of the second week after the application closes.
- A technical proposal for the assignment
- A financial proposal for the assignment
The technical proposal should include a detailed methodological proposal, a CV, examples of study, and other relevant information to ensure the quality of the presented proposal and minimise the disqualifications.
The financial proposal should be a lump sum and should include consultant’s fee, travel costs and per diem, etc. wherever applicable.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
Please access the complete ToR here: 
TOR Evaluation Differentiated learning.pdf
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.