Consultancy ToR Review and Adaptation of Rwandan Pre-primary Scheme of Work

Organization: Help a Child Rwanda

Project: Niga Neza Nkina - UNICEF /LEGO -funded Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project

Project Background:

Access to Early Childhood Development (ECD) services and pre-primary learning opportunities remains a critical need in Rwanda, particularly in rural areas where infrastructure is lacking. The current enrollment rate in organized ECD facilities for 3–6-year-olds stands at only 24%, falling short of the government's 2024 target of 45%. Notably, rural areas are more disadvantaged, with only 22% of children accessing ECD services compared to 32% in urban areas (DHS 2019-2020).

Despite the introduction of home- and community-based ECD models to address this gap, an evaluation by RGB (2022) found that only 9% of ECD centers provide integrated services. Limited caregiver capacity and inadequate equipment often result in substandard care, with 28% of children under 5 receiving inadequate care for more than one hour per week, particularly affecting rural children.

These challenges have significant consequences for children's development, including high rates of stunting, currently at 33%, with Rwanda aiming to reduce this figure to 19% by 2024. Low parenting skills exacerbate these challenges, with socio-cultural norms marginalizing fathers from caregiving responsibilities and a lack of awareness among parents/caregivers about the importance of engaging in stimulating activities with children and understanding children's brain development processes.

In response to these challenges, Help a Child (HaC), an international NGO with programs in various countries including Rwanda, has prioritized Early Childhood Development (ECD) in its strategy. HaC Rwanda has been instrumental in implementing ECD programs, contributing significantly to the development of ECD centers and capacity building for ECD teachers, caregivers, parents, and communities at large. Through a successful tender process initiated by UNICEF in 2023, Help a Child will implement an ECD program “Niga Neza Nkina project” in Burera District for a duration of 18 months, starting from April 15^th 2024, aiming to improve learning through play in school and community-based ECD centers. One of the key needs for the success of this intervention is “the review of ECD scheme of work to make it user-friendly to pre-primary teachers and ECD caregivers”.

Scope of Consultancy:

Help a Child Rwanda is currently looking for a qualified consultant to review and adapt the existing Rwandan pre-primary scheme of work designed for children aged 3-6. The consultant will be responsible for aligning the pre-primary scheme of work with the existing pre-primary curriculum and the Learning through Play (LtP) approach, which is the primary objective of the project. This involves ensuring that the scheme of work reflects the cultural context and adheres to international best practices in early childhood education.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the current Rwandan pre-primary scheme of work vis-à-vis pre-primary competency-based curriculum.
• Align the pre-primary scheme of work with the existing curriculum and learning through play the goals and objectives of the Niga Neza Nkina project.
• Ensure Rwandan context and cultural relevance and sensitivity are taken into consideration during the adaptation process.
• Ensure the reviewed scheme of work is simplified and made user-friendly to all ECD caregivers including home-based caregivers.
• Incorporate a play-based learning approach into the pre-primary scheme of work.
• Collaborate with local stakeholders, including Help a Child Rwanda, UNICEF, and educational authorities, primarily REB, to gather insights and feedback for the adaptation of the scheme of work and obtain approval/validation.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education or an advanced degree in Early Childhood Education, curriculum development, or a related field, with Demonstrated experience in developing or adapting instructional materials for early childhood education.
• Or Bachelor’s degree in education with 5 years of experience in teaching, developing or adapting instructional materials for early childhood education.
• Knowledge of the Rwandan education system and cultural context.
• Proficient understanding of play-based learning methodologies for children in Early Childhood Development (ECD).
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills in English and Kinyarwanda.

Consultancy Duration:

The consultancy will begin with an initial duration of 3 months from the date of contract signing, with an optional extension of 3 months to facilitate the acquisition of Scheme of Work approval and validation from REB.

Application Process:

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their CV, along with a cover letter outlining their relevant experience, and a comprehensive consultancy plan and cost to vacancies@hacrwanda.org by April 30, 2024 5PM. Please ensure that the subject line of your email reads "Consultancy Application: « Niga Neza Nkina Scheme of Work Review and adaptation».