Preschool Education Expert

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.

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. In order to strengthen the capacities of preschools for the implementation of the new Preschool Curriculum Framework (PCF), the Ministry of Education (MoE) has, in the framework of the World Bank supported project Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care, in cooperation with UNICEF and the Institute for Pedagogy and Andragogy, rolled out a comprehensive capacity building programme (blended trainings, mentoring support and horizontal learning) for preschool practitioners, but also for primary schools and education advisers to support transition between the two educational levels, quality development and change management.

Until September 2023, full coverage of preschool practitioners with trainings for the implementation of the new PCF, covering the PCF concept, development of the real programme and documenting, will be reached. To ensure that, after the project’s lifetime, newly employed practitioners will have the access to basic training package free of charge, the MoE has decided to adjust the existing online moderated to a self-paced training. Through this consultancy, an expert support for the adjustment of the training parts that require moderation will be provided that will allow the Institute for Improvement of Education to make the basic training package public and available free of charge for preschool practitioners.

Work Assignment Overview:

The consultant will be responsible for designing proper solutions for the self-paced training on the new PCF implementation in cooperation with the Institute for Improvement of Education, and in consultations with the MoE and UNICEF.

Duration of the assignment: June – August 2023 (part-time, home-based)

Task description:

Review the existing online training package for new Preschool Curricula Framework and, in consultations with the Institute for Improvement of Education, propose the changes that would allow the design of the self- paced training.

Deliverables:

Proposed changes of the Online training for implementation of Preschool Curricula Framework - Years of Ascent, for the following 3 modules:

1. Concept,
2. Development of Real Programme,
3. Documenting.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• University degree in Education, Psychology, Pedagogy or other fields of Social Studies and Humanities.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in preschool education policy and practice in Serbia.
• Experience related to new Preschool Curricula Framework in Serbia.
• Knowledge of the content and technical solutions used in three online trainings for Preschool Curricula Implementation (Concept, Development of Real Programme and Documenting).
• Computer skills (MS Office - Word, Power Point, Excel, Internet).
• Ability to meet tight deadlines through excellent time management, organization and multi-tasking skills.
• Solid knowledge of English and fluency in Serbian language.

How to apply:

The application must include a financial proposal in RSD as a separate document, providing a separate fee for each of the deliverables stated under Task description:

1. Deliverable 1,
2. Deliverable 2,
3. Deliverable 3.

Important notes:

• Please do not forget to specify your name in the Financial Proposal file while saving (to be uploaded online under the “Financial Proposal” tab).
• Please do not indicate financials anywhere else in the online application form. Please mark "n/a” or “00" under the fee-related questions in the online application form.
• Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.