National Institute of Education

Ministry of Education
Maldives

Consultancy for Capacity Building of Curriculum Developers at National Institute of Education (NIE)  and Maldives National Curriculum Revision for Foundation and Key Stage1.

Invitation to submit Proposals - Announcement

The National Institute of Education (NIE) under the Ministry of Education, Maldives is the designated authority of the Government of the Republic of Maldives to design and revise the National Curriculum.

NIE has started rolling a new curriculum in 2015, however, recent findings from a series of consultations on the implementation of the new national curriculum shows gaps between the intended curriculum and what was practiced in schools. NIE, therefore, in light of these consultations wishes to review the curriculum in phases and the current consultancy is for phase 1 which focuses on Foundation and Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum.

This consultancy will have two components:

Component 1: Capacity development of NIE

The objective of this component is to build the institutional capacity of NIE in:-

1. Curriculum design, development and monitoring of the curriculum.
2. Development of Instructional materials for the Maldives national curriculum
3. Embedding key competencies in teaching learning materials
4. Creating awareness in developing content and integrating 21^st century skills into teaching and learning materials.
5. Assessment of acquisition of competencies and knowledge
6. Knowledge and skills on imparting the pedagogical shift envisaged in the curriculum to teachers.

Capacity built through this will contribute to effective implementation of the National Curriculum in Foundation and Key Stage 1.

Component 2: Review of Foundation and Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum

Objective of component 2

• To review the syllabuses, instructional materials for teachers (Teacher guides) and text books for Foundation stage and Key stage 1 to address the gaps and issues highlighted above, affecting the implementation of these key stages.

Key tasks to be undertaken in the review.

1. In collaboration with the National Institute of Education, School of Curriculum, review the syllabi and teaching and learning materials within and across the Key Learning Areas (Foundation stage and Key stage 1) to identify strengths and weakness in terms of

• Balance of content, knowledge and skills
• Consistency in inclusion of content (Topics, Big ideas or concepts)
  • Content coverage
    • Depth and breadth of content
    • Opportunities for deep learning and integration
    • Opportunities for adaptation/differentiation
    • Embedding of key competencies and 21^st century skills
    • Adequate inclusion of literacy and numeracy skills
    • Language consistency

2.   Undertake a gender review of the curriculum materials including the syllabi, teaching and learning materials.  In this regard:

a)      Analyze how gender norms and gender roles are included and depicted in the textbooks and teaching and learning material. Examine if explicit gender bias is present in the textbooks.  Three different dimensions of gender bias in textbooks must be analyzed and addressed if there is any:

(i) underrepresentation,

(ii) stereotyped depictions of gender roles, occupations and attributes, and

(iii) negative/limited presentation of gender content and role models.

b)      Identify gender related attitudes and beliefs of

 (i) Foundation stage teachers and

 (ii) key stage 1 teachers and how these attitudes and beliefs could impact student’s acquisition of gender norms.

c)       Assess whether the NIE has procedures and guidance to textbook writers and publishers on: the need for explicit positive and equality language, and that clearly define what publishers have to do in terms of

(i)   explicit and implicit gender sensitive and gender inclusive content:

(ii)  gender inclusive language,

(iii) iconography (graphics and illustrations)

      d)    Include the findings of the gender review in a separate chapter in the review report.

3.   Produce a detailed report on the findings of the review, including a set of clear recommendations, and a detailed plan on how to bring the required revision.

1. Present the preliminary findings, recommendations and the plan to the senior management of the NIE for Validation.
2. Finalize the report with input from the NIE.

Present the final report to the NIE with all the presentations

NIE therefore invites interested eligible firms/institutes to submit their proposals.

Interested firms must providespecific information which demonstrates that they are fully qualified to perform the services (background of the firm’s technical expertise, description of any similar assignments undertaken, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.)

A firm will be selected in accordance with the Quality-and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS)

Additional information can be obtained from the “Terms of Reference” attached to this advertisement. The “Terms of Reference” will also be available for download in NIE’s website www.nie.edu.mv  using the following link

https://nie.edu.mv/index.php/en/home-nie/forms/478-tor-for-international-consultancy

Interested Consultancy Firms/Institutions shall submit their proposal no later than 1200 hours Maldivian time on 17th JUNE 2019.  The proposal must be mailed to: [email protected]

https://nie.edu.mv/index.php/en/home-nie/forms/479-international-bid-for-consultancy