Education Consultant -RTI/USAID Liberia (Req 11134)

Background

The National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) has the statutory authority over the Liberian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). As such, the NCHE regulates all tertiary institutions in the Republic of Liberia.

All tertiary institutions are licensed and accredited by the NCHE. All curriculum, once developed, must go through the universities and colleges internal approval systems, and submitted to the NCHE for final approval.

The NCHE’s goal is to ensure quality instructional delivery at the HEIs.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Transforming the Education System for Teachers and Students in Liberia (TESTS) Activity supports the Liberian Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National Commission on Higher Education to improve the quality of targeted Liberian early childhood education (ECE) and primary education (PE) teachers’ instructional delivery.

TESTS is implemented by RTI International and its partners, in USAID’s six priority counties—Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Margibi, Montserrado, and Nimba.

The TESTS Activity is working to achieve and sustain three overarching Intermediate Results (IRs):
• IR1: Capacity of selected public, private, and faith-based institutions to train primary and early childhood education teachers strengthened

• IR2: Critical skills built and applied for quality teaching

• IR3: Enabling environment for teaching practice improved

TESTS is working with the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE), and selected the following eight (8) faith-based, public, and private universities and colleges (Adventist University of West Africa, African Methodist Episcopal University, Cuttington University, Grand Bassa University, LICOSESS College of Education, Lofa County University, Nimba University, and University of Liberia) to train teacher aspirants to obtain their associate and bachelor degrees in early childhood education and primary education, respectively.

Mississippi State University (MSU) and Inclusive Development Partner (IDP) have led the development of the core education curricula for the HETTIs. However, the following core education courses (Guidance & Counseling, Educational Statistics, Educational Research Methods, and Thesis/Project) prescribed by the NCHE will be developed by the HETTIs Technical Working Groups (TWGs). As such, TESTS is supporting the NCHE to harmonize the four (4) core education courses mentioned above.

The harmonized core education courses will be included with the MSU and IDP developed courses to complete Semesters 5 through 8 curriculum documents for the ECE and PE Bachelor of Arts degree programs.

National Commission on Higher Education Technical Assistance

TESTS is supporting the NCHE to harmonize the four (4) core education courses for the ECE and PE Bachelor’s degree programs. The four harmonized courses would ensure that TESTS has completed the development and harmonization of the approved programs of study to meet and/or satisfy the NCHE’s regulations.

Responsibilities

Outputs and responsibilities

The Consultant’s overall role is to lead and facilitate, coordinate, and supervise the harmonization of the four (4) core education courses to complete the curriculum development for the ECE and PE bachelor’s degree programs.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Work with higher education teacher training institutions (HETTIs) College of Education faculty and subject specialists, for the harmonization of the four core education courses.

2. Work with the NCHE and TESTS to coordinate and hold meetings with members of the technical working groups to harmonize four core education courses.

3. Ensure that technical working groups are meeting deliverables deadlines on time with technical guidance and needed support.

4. Work with NCHE, TESTS, and members of the technical working groups to ensure the courses layouts and contents, resources, among others, are standardized and original intents are kept.

5. Consultant set up appropriate communication systems to ensure deliverables are met on time.

6. Produce two (2) draft documents for HETTIs to provide feedbacks.

7. Coordinate feedback reports from HETTIs to guide revisions.

8. Submit draft copies of the harmonized curriculum to the NCHE and TESTS for review after collating feedbacks from HETTIs.

9. Incorporate suggestions/feedbacks/comments from the NCHE and TESTS and finalize final draft documents and resubmit to TESTS and the NCHE. Further changes to the Final Draft Course Documents are the responsibility of the NCHE and TESTS, with the Consultant’s role limited to answering questions on specific issues arising.

10. NCHE and TESTS provide concurrence and approval for the final drafts.

11. Produce all course documents in MS Word.

12. Submits harmonized four core education courses as follow:
• Guidance & Counseling – Semester V
• Educational Statistics – Semester VI
• Educational Research Methods – Semester VII
• Thesis/Project – Semester VIII

Please see Consultant’s Deliverables Tables on Page 5 for Timelines

13. Consultant does not hold any proprietary rights to the NCHE’s Course Documents. As such, no part of the edited and formatted document can be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the prior written consent of the National Commission on Higher Education.

14. Consultant found in breach of item #13 will be held liable under the Laws of the Republic of Liberia.

15. Consultant uses his/her own hardware to carry out the actions described as primary and secondary responsibilities (as seen below).

16. Provide written monthly reports on the harmonization of the technical working groups activities to the Office of the NCHE’s Deputy Director General for Planning, Research, and Development, and TESTS’ Technical Director.

17. Turn over all NCHE’s and TESTS’ assets supplied to the consultant on submission of final report and payment.

18. Consultant reports to TESTS’ Technical Director.

Additional Responsibilities

1. Consultant conducts the total of three (3) days in-person technical working groups meetings for Guidance & Counseling TWG:

o Orientation and TWG Working Sessions for development of first draft of the Guidance & Counseling Curriculum Document – 2 days.
o Finalization of the Guidance & Counseling Curriculum Document – 1 day.
2. Consultant conducts the total of five (5) days in-person technical working groups meetings for Educational Statistics, Educational Research Methods, and Thesis/Project TWGs:

o Orientation and TWG Working Sessions for development of first draft of the Educational Statistics, Educational Research Methods, and Thesis/Project Documents – 3 days.
o Finalization of the Educational Statistics, Educational Research Methods, and Thesis/Project Documents – 2 days.

3. Consultant should have two (2) facilitators with subject-matter expertise in Guidance & Counseling, and the Educational Statistics, Educational Research Methods, and Thesis/Project.

4. Consultant will cover the expense for facilitators renumeration, meals, transportation, internet, and other incidentals during the duration of the harmonization exercises.

5. Consultant should orientate TWGs members and provide continuous support for the duration of the harmonization exercises.

TESTS Financial Obligations

TESTS will underwrite the following expenses for the harmonization of the four education courses as follows:

• Payment of fees to Consultant
• Venue for in-person TWGs meetings
• Catering
• TWGs supports (accommodation, transportation, M&IE, catering, internet, honorarium, etc.)
• Production of core education curricula documents
• Editing and formatting core education

Qualifications

Requirements for Consultant

The National Commission on Higher Education requires a professional and experienced consultant who has a work history of producing quality and detailed documents.

 At least a master’s degree in Curriculum Development, Education Management, Education Policy, and any relevant English and Humanities, and Social Science discipline. Ph. D. in higher education is preferred
 At least ten (10) years of planning, designing, and developing curriculum in higher education, including teaching and administrative experience at the higher education level
 Ability to conceptualize, plan, guide, and implement work with demonstrated experience in higher education curriculum and program development
 Proven experience leading curriculum development and planning at the higher education level
 Strategic planning experienced an asset
 Able to analyze, summarize and coherently report on diverse perspectives
 Exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills as well as excellent writing, editing, and formatting skills
 Knowledgeable in the use of the latest technology that supports high quality editing and formatting
 Ability to work under pressure and meet tight timelines; organized and detail oriented
 Previous similar experience working with USAID and Development Partners is an asset.
 Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word

Interested candidates are requested to submit a cover letter and an updated CV in English to

Address your application to:     Human Resources Department

RTI International/USAID TESTS

Hala Building, 18 Street, Sinkor

1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia

Deadline: November 23,2023

Disclaimer
The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by consultant within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of consultant assigned to this job.