Education Quality and Relevance Project: TA in preparing training materials and conducting training of trainers for new curriculum and assessment

Location

Armenia

Duration

2006 - 2008

Donor

International Development Association

Budget

235.000 USD

Description and Deliverables

The goal of the EQ&R Project is to support the Government reforms in general education. More specifically the project has the dual aim of raising the quality of education and ensuring its relevance to the new economy and knowledge society needs along with carrying forward reforms to improve the efficiency of the education system.

The objective of the TA is to support the implementation of the Teachers’ Professional Development Component through training, technical assistance and supervision within the ongoing Education Quality and Relevance project. As a result of this assignment the trained local experts (central trainers) will

successfully plan and conduct training to teachers or in some cases local trainers regarding understanding and implementing the New National Curriculum Framework,
help the MoES to monitor and evaluate the outcomes and impact of the training they provide to teachers and local trainers, and
identify any possible additional support that teachers and schools need in implementing the intended curriculum and assessment changes.

Trainings cover the following subject areas: Armenian (Mother tongue), Mathematics/ICT, Primary school, Natural and Social Sciences’ and Foreign Languages. There is also involvement in awareness raising activities for the government officials and other stakeholders, such as NGOs, education institutions which are involved in the EQ&R Project implementation.

Additional components are:

one day introduction seminar on international trends in training approaches for representatives of MoES, MEDs (Marz Education Departments), NEI, NGOs and other interested parties;
study tour for about 4 local experts (representatives from MoES, NEI, CEP) to examine applications of new curriculum and pupil assessment in schools.

Services:

Desk study of curriculum and assessment practices in Armenia.
Design of a comprehensive training program, detailed description of the methodology used and the principles of monitoring the outcomes and impact of future trainings delivered by the trainees.
Training (two Workshops) for trainers, tasks for individual work, distance learning sessions using the Internet or other relevant media, and practical coaching to the trainees;
Design of outline of training materials and assist the MoES in finalizing these materials by the end of the assignment;
Supplying local experts with additional materials and relevant literature for elaboration of curriculum and assessment issues;
Provision of ongoing distance support to the Working Group members in development of training materials between the Workshops;
Preparation of trainers’ guide that describes the criteria for selecting the content, methods and materials for the trainings to be provided to local trainers and teachers.
Assist staff of Teachers Professional Development Component of EQ&R project in the development of annual action plans and implementation timetables and monitoring and evaluation activities related to that component;
Organisation (plan, host and supervise) of study tour for local experts, representatives from MoES, NEI, CEP.
Reporting regularly (Semi-annually) on progress of the entire assignment (covering all areas of expertise under this assignment)