Download UNICEF Albania Country Office

UNICEF Albania Country Office
TERMS OF REFERENCE
For a national consultant who will assist the MOES in amending the draft Law on Preuniversity Education
Country Office :
Albania
Application Deadline:
20 June 2014
Languages Required:
English
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
July 2014
Expected Duration of Assignment:
Three months (within the
period July - December)
Background and rationale
The Albania Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) is committed to undertake a series of reforms
which will serve to improve the legal framework for its pre-university system and the delivery of
education services. The future education system shall be approximated with OECD countries and
respond not only to the needs of Albania today but also prepare students with the skills needed in the
21 century. Reforms shall bring Albania closer to the EU integration aspirations. To this end, an
amendment of the curriculum of the basic education, preschool and secondary education is being
conducted with the aim of introducing a competency based education curriculum1 which provides
students with various cognitive intrapersonal and interpersonal skills.
Central to the MoES reforms will be two key policy documents to be developed in parallel, namely
the new pre-university strategy and an amended law of pre-university education.
A new strategy covering 2014 to 2020 is needed as the current strategy for pre-university education
has expired in 2013, and in order to align the objectives for the education system with the visions of
the new government program elected in 2013. The formulation of the education strategy document
will start with a white paper that contains the major directions of where the Albanian pre-university
system is headed to. This is already in process. A final strategy document with specific actions and
budgets will have to be consulted and consider inputs of a larger group of stakeholders in education.
The amendments to the law on Pre-university education
is expected to revise the cycles of
1
According to the OECD (2005), a competency is more than just knowledge and skills. It involves the ability to meet
complex demands, by drawing on and mobilizing psychosocial resources (including skills and attitudes) in a particular context.
For example, the ability to communicate effectively is a competency that may draw on an individual’s knowledge of language,
practical IT skills, and attitudes towards those with whom he or she is communicating. (OECD, 2005, p. 4)
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UNICEF Albania Country Office
education in line with OECD countries, make changes on the text books distribution policies, as
well as making an attempt to revolutionize the education system by adding one more year to the
already nine year compulsory education. To this end, MoES will benefit from specific expertise in
revising legislation mainly regarding education provision, children policies etc. based on
participatory feedback on what has not worked well so far and what needs to be aligned with the
latest reforms and objectives the MOES has set forth.
Overall objective of the consultancy:
The overall objective of this consultancy will be to assist the MOES in revising the Pre-university
Law of Education (including provisions for the text books). Specific tasks of this consultancy will
include:
-
In depth analysis of the new social and legislative context of Albania and how to address this
new context in the pre-university education Law. Special focus should be developed to the
new administrative reforms and decentralization and how this reform can affect the law of
Pre-university education.
-
Contact/organize series of meetings with various stakeholders on the comments that they have
on the existing law and the improvements that need to be made. (UNICEF can assist in
organizing the meetings )
-
Keep regular contacts with the team working in pre-university education at MOES, including
the international expert on the Pre-university strategy and stay abreast of all the changes
proposed in the reform of curriculum, teacher qualification, etc., in order to consider any
potential impact these reforms might have on the law.
-
Propose and draft changes to the pre-university education law, present these to stakeholders
and incorporate feedback
Work plan and deliverables
The consultant is expected to work for a three month period. The work is planned to star in early July
while the exact schedule is expected to be developed together with Ministry when the work starts.
The consultant will provide regular updates on the work to UNICEF as well as will directly work and
report to the pre-university education team of the MoES which will approve her/his reports.
No
1.
Deliverable description
Desk review of the new reforms
of MOES, as well as the other
reforms and legislation proposed
which has a direct link to the
Deliverable
Inception report
after 30 days
Working
days and
30 days
Who
Consultant
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UNICEF Albania Country Office
Pre-university education law.
Asses all new legislation
proposed in other sectors and
how they can affect the new Law
on Pre-university Education.
Review education systems d of
other countries and look at their
legislative system
2.
Conduct consultation meetings
with various stakeholders at local
and central level in order to
assess the way that Preuniversity laws works and what
needs to be changed
Report on the
20 days
recommendations
from the various
stakeholders and
presentation to
the team of
Ministry etc. on
what to be
changes
3.
Work on an amended draft law
on Pre-university education
including textbooks provision )
Draft proposed
4.
Present the amended draft law to
interested actors and incorporate
suggestions as agreed with
MOES
Briefs on the
amendments
30 days
10 days
Draft law
amendment
prepared
Consultant/UNICEF
can assist if
necessary for
arranging travel and
organizing
consultations
Consultant assisted
by the team of the
Pre-university
education. MOES
lawyers etc. etc.
Consultant
UNICEF can help
with the
organization of the
process)
Payment
The assignment will be remunerated upon delivery of the agreed outputs. Payment will be made in
three installments:

20% upon submission of inception report

40% upon the successful submission of the final deliverable 2

40% upon deliverable 4
Required skills/experience

Advances degree in Law, human rights law or related fields;

Demonstrated experience in drafting laws (preferably in the social sphere, education)

Good facilitation skills and ability to work in a team;
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UNICEF Albania Country Office

Excellent writing skills in English;

Flexibility for a challenging schedule dictated by different reforms the MOES is undertaking
Interested individuals are requested to submit

Letter of interest indicating the reasons why she/he is capable of implementing the
assignment;

Curriculum vitae

Fee estimate, on monthly base, in local currency LEK;

Copies (or web-links to) of similar work conducted in the past.
Application procedure and selection criteria
Applicants will be required to send electronically their application to UNICEF Tirana Office,
[email protected] and copy to [email protected] and [email protected] by the deadline of
20 June 2014.
The applicant will be selected based on previous relevant experience, background and fee proposed.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Str. "Skenderbej", Volkswagen Building, 3rd floor, Tirana, Albania
phone: +355 42 273 335/6/7/8/9 ext. 22 fax: +355 42 243 775/6
website: www.unicef.org/albania
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