Reading Improvement Strategies Specialist

Project Description:

This project will support Pakistani-led efforts to introduce and institutionalize improvements in reading instruction and reading assessment in grades one through five in public and private schools throughout Pakistan.

Job Summary:

The Reading Improvement Strategies (RIS) Specialist will provide leadership in designing the state-of-the art reading improvement strategies for the primary school system coordinate and facilitate provincial/ regional teams in development of RIS for each province/ region in consultation with the apex institutions and DoE. He/ She will coordinate/ organize the national level workshop on RIS to get necessary feedback on the RIS developed at national.  Subsequently he/she will visit the province to develop the RIS as per their requirement within national RIS. RIS Specialist will facilitate the provincial/ regional offices to get the necessary approval form the relevant steering Committee in province/ region.  The RIS Specialist will report to the Technical Director for Policy.

 Responsibilities:

•  Identify internationally accepted models of best practices/strategies for effective teaching of reading, which can be specifically be applied to teaching of reading Urdu at primary school level for enhancing pupils’ reading competencies.
• Design comprehensive reading improvement strategies for primary school system in collaboration with Reading Advisor and other concerned PRP team members, and support implementation of RIS in the project schools.
• Prepare a framework for developing reading improvement strategies (RIS) and devise a workable mechanism for effective implementation and monitoring of RIS in the primary schools.
• Capacity building of concerned PRP staff (e.g. Policy Coordinators/Officers) in supporting implementation and monitoring of RIS field activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Master’s degree from an accredited university in Primary Education, preferably with focus on reading improvement strategies and policy reforms.

Work Experiences:

• At least 6 years’ relevant experience in primary level teacher training, with focus on teaching reading instruction, preferably in early grades reading;
• At least 3 years’ experience in development of  reading improvement strategies/programs  for early grade reading improvement, preferably in Urdu and English;
• Have knowledge of relevant curriculum materials, content, standards and assessments methodologies relating to RIS.
• Experience with USAID projects preferred;
• Solid understanding of the Pakistani context, with previous experience in Pakistan preferred

Demonstrated Skills:

• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop relations with government counterparts, donors, and other stakeholders;
• Demonstrated success in staff capacity-building and in participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming and implementation;
• Strong communication skills in Urdu and English desirable, both verbal and written.