REF has been supporting desegregation projects in Bulgaria, with aim to enable Romani students from segregated communities enroll and to succeed in integrated education since it was established 2005 and now REF seeks an external pedagogical expert in Bulgaria who will help project implementing NGOs in developing differential methodology for different education needs of beneficiaries.

Objective

The pedagogical advisor will help the grantee of the Roma Education Fund in developing a solid education methodology in selected number of schools, where project children from socially disadvantaged background are enrolled. The focus will be in three schools attended by children with very low academic achievements and another four schools by children with average academic achievements with aim to increase basic literacy of the project children in all grades by the end of the project

Tasks

The consultant is at the same time expected to help to develop specific methodology and advice on the design of the project implementation and activities in relation to socially disadvantaged background and additional educational needs; with main focus on project children that demonstrate very poor academic achievements.

The consultant will be part of the REF monitoring team, and will be participating in documenting and reporting to REF management the project developments. 

More particularly the advisor will help the REF grantee to:

• Develop extracurricular education program for the project beneficiaries in selected primary schools. The REF grantee should be supported to review and assess the project students’ achievements, to follow the progress of the students through all the project cycle, to identify specific bottlenecks, to conduct the dialogue with schools directors, project leader, and teaching staff, and to ensure that an extracurricular program designed by the consultant is taking place regularly.

• Ensure that all project children in 8 hosting schools will participate in state education assessment tests

The consultant will participate in monitoring visits by REF staff.

Outputs

The consultant will prepare a Monthly Work Summary and two reports for REF:

The Monthly Work Summary will be a brief description of the work completed by the consultant during the month, with an indication of any hurdles that have arisen or other matters which affect the overall achievement of the assignment. The Monthly Work Summary is expected to be between 2-5 pages.

Task management and timing

The consultancy period will take place from mid October 2009 until June 2010.

It is expected that the assignment will take at least one and up to 2 days per week, subject to agreement between the consultant and REF. The Consultant will be paid based on a daily rate.

The consultant will report directly to Mrs. Beata B. Olahova, REF Grant’s Manager and Tobias Linden REF director.

REF will supervise the consultant’s work and will provide all necessary background documents.

Necessary Qualifications

Advanced university degree in Pedagogy, Humanities, social sciencesor or related field of study;

Minimum 5 years of experience in the field of teaching/learning about education; or diversity promotion, research and education;

Professional fluency in English and Bulgarian / Romanes would be an advantage

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a team of people of different cultural backgrounds whilst remaining impartial and objective.

Deadline for submitting applications 16 October 2009, CV and a list of publications or demonstration of previous work experience in related field sent to Mrs. Beata B. Olahova bolahova@romaeducationfund.org