Peer-learning Coordinator (Preschool Education)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF’s office is accessible to a certain extent, and employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations that are needed for ensuring equitable working conditions.

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a right of all children and a global commitment recognized by the UN’s Sustainable Developmental Goal 4 with the objective to ensure that all boys and girls have access to quality early childhood education and care by 2030. The Government of Serbia has recognized that quality Early Childhood Education and Care programs play a critical role in laying the necessary foundation for skills and competency development early on, and for narrowing the equity gap in accessing education access. The main strategic objectives defined in the Education Strategy 2030, include increasing access and quality of ECEC programs, provision of additional support to children and families in need, improvement of the monitoring, support to education transition and cooperation with different institutions and the wider community at the local level.

In order to strengthen the capacities of pre-schools for the implementation of the new pre-school curriculum framework (PCF), the Ministry of Education (MoE) has in cooperation with UNICEF, rolled out a comprehensive capacity building programme for pre-school professionals (teachers, expert associates, and directors). The Capacity Building Program (CB Program) is combining the following approaches: 1) blended training (classical training and e-learning) using active learning methods; 2) mentoring; 3) peer learning and horizontal exchange. The capacity building program has been implemented in various phases between 2019 and 2022, as envisaged by the Rulebook on PCF.

So far, more than 14,000 preschool professionals (teachers, expert associates, and directors) have participated in five days training, mentoring support has been provided to all public preschools, while in the third phase, preschools are benefiting from the two models of horizontal exchange.

One is the model Joint Learning through Modelling implemented as a study tour to kindergartens which are more experienced in development of practice in line with the new preschool curricula framework, developed by the Institute for Pedagogy and Andragogy, that has been postponed due to the Covid-19 prevention measures.

Second is the Professional Learning Communities (PLC), focused on professional exchange between the practitioners in the same phase of the new PCF implementation. It was developed by the Coordinators of peer learning and horizontal exchange, engaged by UNICEF in close cooperation with the UNICEF and the Ministry of Education. It is focused on horizontal learning within the one preschool and between different preschools. Initially, UNICEF consultants provided direct support to all preschools implementing the PLC model of horizontal learning. After the scaling up of the model implementation, MoE engaged three associates for socio-reflective practice who also started to provide support to preschools in closed consultations with UNICEF engaged consultants, MoE and UNICEF.

As the monitoring findings show that the peer learning has been the highly rated type of professional development, the final year of project implementation will be much focused on it.

Work Assignment Overview:

The consultant will provide professional support for the improvement of horizontal learning based on the monitoring findings that will include also: enhancement of the training for horizontal learning, as well as of the model of Professional Learning Communities, forming the groups and twining of preschools, support to preschools for the implementation of PLC through consultative meetings and support to MoE associates, development of resources and quality assurance of materials developed by preschools, and the promotion of peer learning.

Duration of the assignment: January - November 2023 (part-time, home-based)

Task description:

1) Preparation and implementation of peer learning training according to the program developed through the project:

• Adjusting the training based on the training evaluations
• Enrolment of participants at the Learning Passport Platform and training implementation

2) Preparation, organization and facilitation of peer learning events with kindergartens which will act as cluster centres (Čačak, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Loznica, Pirot) according to the methodology developed through the project:

• Participation in 1 peer learning event with cluster centres

3) Development of model, organization and facilitation of twining (professional learning communities PCF) in the pre-school institutions implementing new PCF:

• Enhancement of the peer learning model based on the monitoring and findings from the consultative meetings with preschools
• Support to implementation of the model of PLC through consultative meetings (online and classical), participation in the peer-learning events, support to MoEs associates for socio-reflective practice
• Development of resources for peer-learning implementation and quality assurance of materials developed by preschools, based on needs assessments

4) Promotion of peer learning:

• Development of promotional materials
• Participation in different events (conferences of professional associations of education practitioners, scientific conferences…)

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• MA (or equivalent) degree in Education, Psychology, Pedagogy or other fields of Social Studies and Humanities.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in education policy and practice in Serbia.
• Experience in peer learning projects, or participation in peer learning in their institution.
• Excellent knowledge of all regulations in the field of preschool education in the Republic of Serbia.
• Basic computer skills (MS Office - Word, Power Point, Excel, Internet).
• Sound judgement is required in follow-up on requests.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines through excellent time management, organization and multi-tasking skills.
• Fluency in Serbian language.

How to apply:

The application must include a financial proposal in RSD as a separate document, providing the following information:

1. Daily rate (all costs included, e.g. health insurance, pension, usage of mobile phone),
2. Daily travel allowance for overnight stay in Serbia (including accommodation),
3. Transportation costs per km (for travel within Serbia).

Important notes:

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.

For every child, you must demonstrate UNICEF's core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.