Call for Applications: Case Studies on Current and Innovative Learning Assessment Practices for STEM Education in Primary Schools in Five African countries

Applications should be sent to adea-applications@afdb.org no later than 8^th December 2023 midnight (GMT). With email subject “Name of your preferred country plus Case study on the Current and Innovative Learning Assessment Practices for STEM Education in Primary Schools”.

1. Introduction and background

The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) is the leading Africa education-focused inter-ministerial mechanism for policy coordination, learning and development. ADEA’s goal is the High quality African education and training geared towards the promotion of critical knowledge and skills for accelerated and sustainable development in Africa. The Inter Country Quality Nodes (ICQNs) are ADEA’s main mechanism for capacity strengthening, cross-country learning, and dissemination of innovative practices across Ministries of Education. they include the ICQN on Mathematics and Science Education (ICQN-MSE) and on Teaching and Learning (ICQN-TL). The ICQN-TL, hosted by the Ministry of Education in Rwanda, focuses on teacher professional development and learning across the education system, especially the components of curriculum, teaching and learning materials, and measurement of learning outcomes. Through this ICQN, ADEA seeks to conduct case studies in five African countries on current and innovative learning assessments practices in STEM education.

the LEGO Foundation operates in different African countries and with partners, including ADEA, in implementing education projects in Africa. It is currently supporting innovative pedagogies and learning through play with technology experiences in countries like Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda in partnership with organizations like ADEA, IREX, Right to Play, FIRST, and Scratch Foundation. Thus, the Foundation is keen to share innovative pedagogies and best practices across the continent through these case studies as the approach has strong alignments with the Foundation’s Tech and Play initiative’s mandate to advance hands-on, minds-on STEM teaching and learning through education systems strengthening.

Learning about these learning assessment best practices and innovations in STEM education, and the overall situation of STEM teaching and learning in primary education, can inform key officials working within education systems across Africa as they strategize ways to enhance children’s access to engaging, effective, motivating STEM learning, and summative and formative assessments. 

In this regard, ADEA, through the ICQN-TL will document country-level STEM applications, identify current learning assessments and innovative practices, in line with the shift from summative assessments to formative assessments, as part of early talent and skills identification, and to enhance the evidence-based pedagogies and outcomes of play-based learning in the 5 African countries of Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Senegal.

2. Case studies objectives

a) General objective:  

To conduct case studies on current and innovative learning assessment practices for STEM education in primary schools in Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Senegal.

b) Specific objectives:

1. To document the current learning assessment practices in STEM education at primary school level.
2. To examine the extent to which formative assessment has been adapted in evaluating competencies in STEM education at primary school level. 
3. To document innovative best practices in formative assessments for STEM education at primary school level. 
4. To provide strategies to enhance the evidence about pedagogies and outcomes of play-based STEM education in primary schools in the selected countries.

3. Scope and specific tasks of the individual country Consultant

The case study will be conducted in five African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Senegal) over a period of 15 days for each country.

4. Duties and responsibilities of the Consultant

The consultant in each country will work closely with the ICQN-TL Project Officer, ICQN-MSE Coordinator and Senior Projects Officer to undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct a desk review of available documents related to the case study.
• Develop the case study methodology and tools.
• Conduct primary data collection.
• Conduct virtual key informant interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders.
• Analyze and synthesize the primary and secondary data collected.
• Draft and submit the case study report to the ICQN-TL Project Officer, with copy to the ICQN-MSE Coordinator and the Senior Projects Officer for feedback.
• Submit the revised draft (pre-validated) country case study report, and a draft PowerPoint presentation summarizing the findings and recommendations, to the ICQN-TL Project Officer, with copy to the ICQN-MSE and the Senior Projects Officer.
• Participate in the validation workshop organized by ADEA where the case studies’ results will be presented. 
• Finalize the case study report, based on feedback from the validation workshop, and update the PowerPoint presentation.
• Develop a Policy Brief from the validated case study report. 
• Submit the final case study report, policy brief, and a PowerPoint presentation to the ICQN-TL Project Officer, with copy to the ICQN-MSE and the Senior Projects Officer.

5. Key deliverables 

Each country consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables: 

• Inception Report highlighting the summary desk review, work plan, methodology, tools to be used, case study structure, and timeline.
• Draft Case Study Report.
• Draft PowerPoint presentation.
• Summary report of stakeholder feedback 
• Final Case Study Report
• Policy Brief
• Updated PowerPoint presentation. 

6. Required qualifications, experience, skills and competencies

The consultant should have the following qualifications, experience, skills, and competencies:

• Proven ability and experience in conducting education case studies in Africa;
• Deep knowledge of African educational systems;
• Experience in facilitating engagements with policy makers and senior officials;
• Knowledge of curriculum and summative and formative learning assessments; 
• Extensive experience in designing research projects, conducting studies, evaluations, and surveys, undertaking data analysis, and report writing (links to published research and analytical documents required);
• A minimum of master’s degree in education, Psycho-pedagogy, Public Policy, Social Policy, or related fields;
• Proven ability to work in teams and expert groups as well as working in international and multicultural environments;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with government and international organizations;
• Proficiency in spoken and written French and/or English, depending on the language spoken in the selected country.

7. Timelines

8. Application Procedures 

Interested individual consultants should select one country and apply by presenting the following documents:  

• Motivation letter expressing their motivation/interest and comprehension of the assignment.
• Technical and financial proposals describing the methodology or approaches, techniques, detailed activities, and all related financial expenses to carry out the study.
• Personal CVs that include experience from similar studies, contact details (email and telephone number) and at least three professional references.

Applications should be sent to adea-applications@afdb.org no later than 8^th December 2023 midnight (GMT), with email subject “Name of your preferred country plus Case study on the Current and Innovative Learning Assessment Practices for STEM Education in Primary Schools” .