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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) 1 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 2 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; 3 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 4