Learning Together оголошує тендер на проведення базового дослідження щодо впровадження тренінгів для вчителів із викладання біології, математики, хімії та фізики українською. Дедлайн - 23 лютого 2020 р.

These Terms of Reference define the activities that will be provided for the Language Component of the project Finland’s Support to the Ukrainian Education Reform (later: Project), in particular for Cluster 1 Teacher Preparation.

1. 1.     Background info on the project

Learning Together is a four-year collaborative project that started between Ukraine and Finland in July 2018, and was joined by the EU in late 2018. The work scheduled to last until July 2022. The Project is implemented by FCG International.

The project has national coverage and it focuses on supporting the New Ukrainian School (NUS) reform, especially in the primary education, and is designed around three thematic clusters which are inter-linked: Teacher Competence Development, Education Promotion, and New Education Environments.

The total budget is 8 million euros out of which 6 million euros is Finnish funding. In addition, there is a 2-million-euro top-up funding tool for enhancing the quality of instruction in Ukrainian ST/L2 among national minorities, provided by the EU.

1. 2.     Context of Assignment

The new Law on Education was adopted in Ukraine on September 5, 2017. Article 7 of the Law refers to an increase in subjects taught in the Ukrainian language for national minorities at the secondary education level.

In a letter dated September 29, 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine addressed the Venice Commission, an advisory body in the field of constitutional law, to conclude on Article 7 of the Law on Education, which regulates the use of the state language, as well as minority languages and other languages of education.

In 2018, the Ministry of Education and Science prepared a Roadmap for minority languages, focusing on the need to improve the quality of teaching Ukrainian among ethnic communities, especially in Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi regions.

Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi are multinational and multicultural regions with Hungarian and Romanian among the minority language groups. The following districts are densely populated by national communities - Hungarian: Berehovе, Vynohradiv, Uzhhorod, and Romanian: Tiachiv, Hertsa, Novoselytsia, Storozhynets, Hlyboka, Chernivtsi. In 2019/2020 school year, in Zakarpattia region, there are 72 schools with the Hungarian language of instruction; and 27 schools with Ukrainian and Hungarian languages of instruction; 12 schools with the Romanian language of instruction and 2 schools with Ukrainian and Romanian languages of instruction. In total, 17192 students receive instruction in Hungarian and 2591 students receive instruction in Romanian in this region. In Chernivtsi region, there are 56 schools with the Romanian language of instruction and 18 – with Ukrainian and Romanian languages of instruction. In total, 13518 students receive instruction in Romanian in this region.

The above-mentioned schools deliver instruction mostly in minority languages, while the Ukrainian language is learned only as a separate subject. These schools do not provide students with enough proficiency in the language to enter tertiary education in Ukraine. A high percentage of the school graduates are failing in independent evaluation tests in the Ukrainian language and literature that is an integral component of their admission to further education.

The results of a baseline study in Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi regions “At the educational crossroads: the evidence-based dialogue with national minorities in Chernivtsi and Zakarpattia regions” also show that teacher professional development should be modernized in target regions.

The implementation of the foreseen activities in the project’s duration period is articulated on the basis of the annual work plan. For example, a summer academy, several workshops for teachers of Ukrainian language, summer camps for students from Chernivtsi and Zakarpattia regions were already held in 2019, in the frames of the Project’s Language Component activities.

1. 3.      Goal

The overall goal of this feasibility study is to provide the project with sufficient information to make strategic choices in designing of the activity “Trainings for teachers on instruction biology, math, chemistry and physics in the Ukrainian language in Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi regions” and to prepare suggestions for further training programs in the Ukrainian language for teachers of subjects. 

1. 4.     Scope of work

A detailed workplan will be finalized by the Consultant with guidance by the National Project Director, the Chief Technical Advisor, and the Project’s Language Expert, and the MoES.

The scope of work of the Service Provider under this ToR shall include, but not necessarily be limited to the following:

4.1.                    To conduct a preliminary analysis and review data, especially focusing on:

4.1.1.     How many target schools and teachers are in Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi regions?

4.1.2.     Is there any significant difference in teacher training needs between Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi regions?

4.1.3.     What subjects are planned to be taught in Ukrainian (by regions and schools)?

4.1.4.     What is the level of language competence of (i) teachers, (ii) students in
grades 5-11 in Ukrainian? 

4.1.5.     What modalities could be applied to integrate teachers who due to different reasons could not study Ukrainian on the level needed for instruction in order to keep them in the education system? 

4.2.                    To conduct a survey, or perform research, especially focusing on:

4.2.1.     What kind of training, pedagogical, subject-related or other would be needed for teachers in each region?

4.2.2.     What implementation model of this activity would fit final outcomes (piloting/choice of discipline/other).

4.3.                    To identify the subject teachers (math, biology, chemistry, physics), who, having a poor command of the Ukrainian language, are motivated to learn it and teach in it – they would become the target audience for further in-service training.

4.4.                    To make suggestions to the training programs for teachers in target regions. The proposals should be generic, basing on the results of the research, so that it could be possible to develop a multidiscipline model of a training curriculum.

4.5.                    To identify the most suitable modes and channels of communication with the target audience – subject teachers in Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi regions.

4.6.                     To prepare a project risks analysis.

4.7.                    To suggest benchmarks how the idea of trainings for teachers of biology, math, chemistry and physics in Ukrainian could be materialized in both target regions.

4.8.                    To disseminate the results through expert discussions with the Project Implementation Team.

1. 5.     Expected deliverables

The Service Provider will submit the following deliverables:

5.1.  Present ideas and a working plan for the feasibility study

5.2. Design a creative concept for the feasibility study

5.3. Draft an inception report outlining the activities to be undertaken, with an implementation plan and timelines

5.4. Implement the study

5.5. Provide a monthly Progress report describing the accomplishments of each sub-studies

5.6. Provide a Final Report which shows the methodology used, activities undertaken, successes, challenges, results (planned and unplanned), lessons learned, and future recommendations with a clear suggestion of a go/no-go strategies and a plan for organization and implementation.

1. 6.     Resource Planning and Timeline

The amount of this assistance is assessed as 3 months, including preparation, during February-April 2020. The final timeline of the assignment will be agreed with the Project.

The details of the assignment, terms and conditions will be specified in the contract between the FCG International Ltd (Contractor) and a local service provider/agency (Consultant) that provides the local consultancy team of local experts. Payment milestones will be based on the acceptance of the key deliverables by the Project Management Team.

The maximum budget is 15,000 Euro.

1. 7.     Submission requirements

The Proposal must include the following:

7.1. A technical proposal not exceeding 5 pages in length including the intended approach and the planned activities, the implementation, the management of the undertaking, including an operational work plan with timelines.

7.2. Breakdown of costs. The budget breakdown must include two separate sections: ‘Fees of experts’ and ‘Other costs’. The fees shall be defined on rates based on working days or working month. The other Costs must be broken down to correspond the Technical Proposal and Work Plan. The Budget Breakdown must be in Euros.

7.3. The Curriculum Vitae of the consultant and for each member of the team (if a team approach is used).

7.4. Official documents proving the status of the organisation and the document proving the financial capacity (annual turnover and profit/loss) of the organisation.

Copies of main registration documents.

Other relevant supporting documents may be attached as an annex.

The proposal must be in English.

1. 8.     Evaluation criteria and Selection Procedure

Proposals will be evaluated based on Quality (90% weight) and Price (10% weight).

Eligible service providers are requested to submit a written proposal. The quality of the Proposal will be evaluated based on the following:

8.1. Organisation (10%):
- Previous experience in similar assignments.

8.2. Service Provider’s Team communication skills and experience in analytical tasks (40%):
- A Master’s Degree in the relevant field
- Minimum of three years of professional experience in related field
- Capability and proven experience in developing and executing feasibility analysis, and designing messages in various formats targeting a variety of audiences
- Excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills in English, Ukrainian
- Previous experience with analytical tasks, as well as experience in working with national minorities’ communities will be an asset
- Familiarity with the New Ukrainian School reform will be an asset.

8.3. Technical Proposal (40%):
- The relevance of the approach and implementation methodology
- The expected impact of the proposed methodology.

Only short-listed candidates will be invited to the interview. The evaluation and selection of the service provider will be carried out by the Project in accordance with the ToR and under supervision of the Steering Committee.

9. Deadline for Proposals

The final application must be submitted by 23 February 2020 via email at [email protected] .

Please note that all written communication must be in English. Further instructions for the tender are given only from the email mentioned above. Any further information or advice obtained from other sources may be disregarded in the tender evaluation.

10. Guiding principles

Manual for Bilateral Programs by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, revised version 2018 https://um.fi/publications/-/asset_publisher/TVOLgBmLyZvu/content/manual-for-bilateral-programmes is applied in the planning and implementation of this assignment. This manual is applied in all cooperation that has been agreed between Finland and Ukraine.

11. Mandate

The Consultant is expected and entitled to discuss issues relevant to the assignment with relevant parties, government authorities, and other relevant organizations and individuals. However, the Consultant does not have any mandate to make commitments on behalf of government authorities in Ukraine and Finland, or on behalf of the Contractor, FCG International Ltd, especially.