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For every child, the right to education.
How can you make a difference?
The purpose of the assignment is to provide technical support to the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) in Lao PDR to develop a conceptual framework and roadmap for establishing a school readiness assessment system, drawing on MoES’ existing School Readiness Competencies (SRC) targeting children aged 5 to under 6 years (one year before primary grade one entry).
The existing MoES’ SCR sets standards on school readiness across five domains, namely 1) physical development, movement and hygiene; 2) cognition and learning; 3) language and communication; 4) emotional development; and 5) social development. SCR is an essential foundation for children aged 3 to 5 years before they enter primary school. Beyond expanding equitable access to early childhood education, the MoES also aims to ensure the quality of early childhood education (ECE) translates into children’s school readiness outcomes. Whilst the CRS hves been integrated into the MOES’ ECE curriculum, teacher guides and training, etc., actual assessment on children’s learning and developmental stans against the CRS has not yet been undertaken to date, nor is a system to undertake such an assessment yet to be established.
As presented in the 10th Education Sector Development Plan (ESSDP) 2026-2030, MoES considers it as a priority to monitor and assess ECE-aged children's learning and development based on the CRS, to determine their level of progress against the competencies, and to identify which domains need further promotion or support. This information is essential for planning, setting priorities, providing targeted support, leading to improving the quality and effectiveness of early childhood education overall. To date, monitoring and reporting on ECE by MoES has focused mainly on access data, such as the number of learners, enrolment rates and the number of educational institutions. However, it has not yet been able to explain ECE-aged children's learning and developmental status comprehensively and objectively. Data on children's school readiness, based on the SRC, will therefore enable the sector to see both ECE access (from the EMIS) and the quality (children's level of school readiness), for use in analyzing key issues and disparities, setting priorities, and planning support for improving the overall quality of ECE services more in an evidence-based manner. With these backdrops, based on the request from MoES, this consultancy is to support MOES to develop a conceptual framework and an accompanying actionable road map, to guide the overall development and piloting of the school readiness assessment. Since the MOES first aims to focus on children aged 5 to under 6 years in all types of ECE settings (one year before primary school), the assessment will focus on and be based on the SCR for five-year-old.
If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0007980 External ToR.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...
Minimum requirements: |
Education Master’s (Advanced) degree in early childhood education, child development, education, education assessment, or another relevant field. In lieu of a specific academic degree, relevant experience may be considered to meet this requirement
Work Experience: At least 8 years of professional work experience in any relevant field including relevant academic disciplines to include any of these: early childhood development, early childhood education or educational measurement and assessment. Experience in the education sector in Laos/Southeast Asia is a strong asset.
Skills: Knowledge and experience in developing ECE or child development assessment, assessment systems and implementation of roadmaps. Knowledge of the Lao PDR’s education sector landscape and Lao PDR’s policies, strategies, guidelines related to ECE is a strong asset.
Language Requirements: Fluency in English is a requirement. Knowledge of Lao language or Thai language is a strong asset.
Desirables Prior work experience with UNICEF or other UN and/or international organization is an asset
For every Child, you demonstrate...
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