Revised Secondary English Curriculum (RSEC)… at Abt Global · Suva

Revised Secondary English Curriculum (RSEC) Advisor Yr 11 - Australia Fiji Education Fiji Program

Location: Suva, Fiji

Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP)

• Short Term Personnel (60 working-days)
• Remote – home based with travel to Suva, Fiji
• Open to both National and International Applicants

• Please apply online by submitting a cover letter addressing how you meet the selection criteria of this role and up-to-date comprehensive CV

Program Overview:

The Fiji Program Support Platform (FPSP or the ‘Platform’) is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) investment that contributes to the delivery of Fiji’s national development priorities, in line with the Australia’s International Development Policy, the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership and the Development Partnership Plan.

The Platform delivers key bilateral programs, such as health, education, scholarships, social infrastructure, governance, climate and emergency preparedness and response. Platform activities identify and address climate risks, promote climate action, and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) across and beyond the sector programs.

The Platform has three functional Outcomes:

1. The Platform has delivered its sector program outcomes, including through supporting strategic coherence, planning, partnerships management, data and learning across the portfolio of investments.
2. The Platform has prioritised gender equality, disability-inclusive development, and climate and disaster resilience, in its systems and practices. This includes in how it undertakes sector programming and its engagement with selected Government of Fiji (GoF) agencies.
3. The Platform administers timely and efficient programming that is: value for money; maximises use of local supply chains; and supports good governance, and public diplomacy, effective decision making and risk management.

AFEP Overview:

The Australian Government is supporting Fiji’s education sector through the Australia Fiji Education Program (AFEP, the Program) working with the Ministry of Education (MoE).

The objective of the AFEP is “to work with the Government of Fiji under the Vuvale Partnership to catalyse quality education delivery for all Fijian children”.

The changes expected by the end of the five-year program are:

• EOPO 1: Schools, particularly trial schools, have improved student literacy and numeracy outcomes, supported by enabling policies, plans and data from the Ministry of Education.
• EOPO 2: Heads of schools and teachers, supported by enabling policies and data from the Ministry of Education, provide a safe, resilient and inclusive learning environment for all students, particularly in trial schools.

Four intermediate outcomes will provide pathways to meet these end of program outcomes in priority areas, like implementation of the revised literacy and numeracy curriculum in primary and secondary schools, professional development interventions, analysis and improvement of the Fiji Education Management Information System (FEMIS), as well as GEDSI and student wellbeing.

The funding for the program is approximately AUD45 million over 9 years (5 years, with an option to extend for a further 4 years) and delivered through a range of activities to achieve the program’s objectives. Implementation modalities include technical advice, procurement of technical services and goods, minor works and infrastructure upgrades, capacity building and training support, support to Ministry led initiatives and innovations, and grants to civil society organisations (CSOs).

Position Summary:

The Ministry of Education (MoE) is implementing the Fiji Revised Secondary Education Curriculum (RSEC) and has successfully developed and rolled out English curriculum frameworks for Years 9 and 10. To ensure a coherent learning progression and alignment with upper secondary education standards, there is a need to extend this framework to Year 11 before extending to Years 12 and 13.

The Year 11 curriculum must: build on competencies developed in Years 9–10; maintain consistency with RSEC pedagogy; strengthen students’ readiness for senior secondary assessment and further education; and be supported by structured teaching and learning materials

Revised Secondary English Curriculum (RSEC) Advisor Yr 11 will support MoE to design and develop a comprehensive Year 11 English curriculum package, including content, instructional and learning materials and assessment tools. The package will be aligned with the progress of and lessons learned from the Revised Secondary Education Curriculum (RSEC) in Years 9 and 10.

Key Responsibilities:

The Advisor will support MoE and AFEP to undertake the following:

Task 1: Review and Alignment

Review existing RSEC Year 9 and Year 10 English curriculum frameworks and materials identifying areas of success and areas for strengthening. The result of this review should feed back into the ongoing support to Years 9 and 10.

Review current Yr 11 to Yr 13 curriculum frameworks, prescribed pedagogy, materials and student learning progression

Identify progression pathways and competency gaps based upon above reviews

Ensure alignment with national education standards, national curriculum framework and assessment expectations

Task 2: Curriculum Framework Development

Develop a Year 11 English Curriculum Framework following existing achievement indicators, including: learning outcomes and competencies; unit/thematic structure; and determination of pedagogical strategy/principles

Ensure vertical progression from Years 9–10 and readiness for Year 12

Task 3: Development of Teaching and Learning Materials

Teacher Guides

Develop comprehensive teacher guidance materials, including: unit overviews and instructional notes; detailed (scaffolded) lesson plans; suggested teaching methodologies aligned with RSEC pedagogy; differentiation and inclusive education strategies; integration of formative and summative assessments

Student Learning Materials

Develop student-facing materials, including but not limited to: reading texts and comprehension tasks; writing activities and structured exercises; language and grammar development activities; critical thinking and discussion prompts

Task 4: Lesson Planning Tools

Develop standardized lesson planning templates and scaffolding tools, including: learning objectives aligned to competencies; step-by-step lesson flow; time allocations; suggested activities and teaching strategies; and assessment checkpoints

Task 5: Assessment and Testing Framework

Develop a comprehensive assessment system in consultation with the MoE Examination and Assessment Unit (EAU) and Curriculum Advisory Services (CAS), including: formative assessment strategies and tools; summative assessment tasks; scoring rubrics and marking schemes; alignment with competency-based assessment principles and national examinations

Task 6: User design inputs, Validation and Revision

Participate in stakeholder consultations, including teachers, Heads of Departments, Heads of Schools and Teacher Training Institutions

Task 7: Best practice, GEDSI and CDR Considerations

Ensure that all outputs: promote equity and inclusion, including gender-responsive approaches; address the needs of diverse and disabled learners, including students in remote and underserved areas; reflect principles of effective teaching and learning under resource constraints; align with evidence-based international best practices in English language and literacy education; and, incorporate climate disaster resilience (CDR) subject matter and how English language and literacy learning supports CDR

Key Deliverables:

The consultant will provide technical support to MoE and AFEP for the following key deliverables:

1. Inception report with refined methodology and workplan
2. Curriculum Package

• Yr11 English Curriculum Framework – structure and competencies
• Teacher Guides and (Scaffolded) Lessons Plans
• Student Reading and Activity materials
• Assessment Tools – rubrics, assessment tools/examples, marking schemes

3. Review and consultation of Curriculum Package

4. Finalised Curriculum Package

5. Report with lessons learned and recommendations

The Advisor’s performance will be evaluated based on:

• Technical quality and alignment with RSEC
• Clarity, usability, and practicality of materials
• Adherence to timelines
• Responsiveness to feedback
• Overall completeness and coherence of outputs within the context of Fiji

Duration of the Assignment :

The services are expected to be implemented during an eight-month period from contract signature, with a total of 60 working days. The Advisor is expected to spend a minimum of half of the 60 working days in Fiji. AFEP will provide all reasonable travel, accommodation and other in-country costs associated and required for successful contract implementation, as required.

Key Working Relationships:

The Advisor will report to the Team Leader, AFEP. S/he will work directly with MoE Curriculum Advisory Services and the AFEP Secondary English team, and in collaboration with MoE Examinations and Assessment Unit, Teacher Training Institutes and ither relevant stakeholders.

The Advisor will be guided by a Yr 11 English technical working group comprising Ministry representatives and key partners.

Selection Criteria:

The Advisor should have the following qualifications/experience:

• Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in Education, Secondary Education, Education Literacy or other relevant subject matter
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in:

1. Secondary English curriculum design and strengthening
2. Development of associated teaching and learning materials
3. Competency-based curriculum frameworks

• Demonstrated experience in:

1. Developing teacher guides and student textbooks
2. Assessment design and examination frameworks
3. Experience working with curriculum reform processes.
4. Experience working with Ministries of Education in two or more countries
5. Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
6. Excellent report-writing and curriculum documentation skills.

• Experience in Pacific or similar contexts is highly desirable

How to Apply: