Literacy Programme

About the Organization

Room to Read envisions a world in which all children can pursue a quality education, reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world. To achieve this goal, we focus on two areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact: literacy and gender equality in education.  We work in collaboration with communities and local governments across Asia and Africa to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the life skills they’ll need to succeed in school and beyond. Over 10 million children have benefitted from Room to Read’s programs over the past ten years.

Background of the Literacy Program

Room to Read’s literacy program is based on scientific and yet contextually relevant principles of literacy that are time tested. This set of comprehensive principles of early literacy ensures that the magic and science of reading are well established in the lives of the benefitting children. Yet at the school/teacher level, the program design detailed out a simple, structured lesson plan, enabling the teacher to engage with the children around activities.

Research and evaluation play an important role in assessing and monitoring the progress in foundational learning. Quality research and evaluation will help to learn what ideas and approaches are most effective for improving the well-being of children which would help in achieving a better understanding of children’s contexts and needs. As per the mandate of NIPUN Bharat guidelines, in the states, involvement of SCERT, DIETs, universities and State Research institutions should be encouraged in conducting research on issues of relevance to foundational learning (NIPUN, Bharat,2021). Work on action research projects shall give insights into the challenges being faced by teachers in implementing the state pedagogy for foundational literacy during classroom transactions. The findings of the research studies would give feedback on the need for further contextualization of strategy to state’s context. The research would also include evaluation of outcomes and impact of interventions provided for specific purposes under Foundational Learning.

Keeping above in view, Room to Read is planning to conduct action research in collaboration with SCERT and DIETs along with State Universities. To facilitate with involving research scholars from Hindi and Education department in Uttarakhand. The research scholars will be involved as the primary point of contact for all research/action research studies that Room to Read will undertake in the state. They will work in close coordination and supervision of concerned point person in SERI team for the research activities. They will be supporting implementation of FLN Mission as outlined in NIPUN by designing and monitoring action research-based projects. They will be required to travel to various schools in districts where the action research projects will be undertaken.

Roles and responsibilities:

The consultant/(s) should have expertise in the below mentioned areas of work:

• Designing of Outline and Framework for Action Research Topics under Foundational Literacy domain

• Secondary research for relevant literature for the action research topics
• Participate and facilitate workshops on action research in the state
• Preparation and finalization of tools for action research
• Pre-Testing/Pilot /Validation
• Data collection on Action Research per study design
• Support in data entry /data punching & Data analysis with inputs from all concerned stakeholder
• Support final report on action research
• Support in coordination with DIETs, their respective Universities, and teachers during the action research duration.
• Visiting the schools which are part of action research project, observation, recording and documentation

Requirements:

1. Educational qualification in education subject (bachelors /masters)
2. Fluency in oral and written Hindi
3. Association with University in state, as this will be in association with them
4. Ability to write action research proposals and possess decent documentation skills
5. Knowledge of MS Office especially MS Word and MS Excel is a must. Knowledge of other advanced data analysis tools will be an added advantage.
6. Experience of handling action research projects (especially education-based projects) will be given preference.

Expected Duration of Assignment:

From April to September 2023

HOW TO APPLY

Proposals are invited from the interested consultant/(s) for the above assignment. The last date for receiving the proposal is 31 January 2023 at procurement.india@roomtoread.org [do not copy anyone from RtR]

• Kindly submit two separate emails with following subject lines:
  • EMAIL (1) : Research Scholar 2023 - TECHNICALPROPOSAL
  • EMAIL (2) : Research Scholar 2023 - FINANCIAL PROPOSAL
• The consultant/(s) should apply with the following:
  • TECHNICAL PROPOSAL 
    • Detailed CV of all the consultant/(s) involved in this project
  • FINANCIAL PROPOSAL
    • Expected Monthly remuneration for the work
    • Copy of PAN, GST (if applicable), Bank details etc.
  1. Read the ToR thoroughly before applying
  2. Only Shortlisted consultant/(s) will be contacted and might be called for a face-to-face interaction with the panel
  3. Any incomplete application or process deviation, the proposals will automatically be rejected

Proposal received after the prescribed deadline will not be considered.

The TDS will be applicable on the consultancy fee. 

Selected consultant/(s) will be required to sign and abide by the Child Protection policy of Room to Read.   

For queries, please contact:

Ms Neha Premchandani at Neha.Premchandani@roomtoread.org