Consultancy to scope and set out options for development of enhanced English language teaching in secondary and higher education in the Atyrau region of Western Kazakhstan

Location: Kazakhstan
Apply by: 31 March 2017
Start date: 1 May 2017
End date: 15 September 2017

Project description – About the project
The British Council in Kazakhstan is seeking to engage a UK partner to explore options and give recommendations – with supporting design – for a 3-5 year project aimed at developing sustainable, high quality teaching capability and teacher training systems in the oil-rich Atyrau region of Western Kazakhstan to improve learning outcomes for students.

It is expected that this consultancy assignment would suit a UK university with strong Education and English Language teaching and research departments interested in a) education reform and development in high growth emerging economies and b) developing a potential long-term UK-Kazakhstan university partnership.

This project is managed by the British Council and funded by the Tengizcvhevroil (TCO) Company. As part of its corporate responsibility programme, TCO has identified community investment and engagement as a priority. Within this area of interest, TCO is focussing particular attention on English language teaching and capacity building and is working with the British Council to develop a new 3 to 5 year English development programme to support education and socio-economic development in Western Kazakhstan. TCO’s corporate responsibility programme is also partly a response to local community demand for English.

Background.
Education in Kazakhstan is undergoing transformative change to support Kazakhstan 2050, a state vision to make Kazakhstan one of the 30 most developed nations in the world by 2050. This requires the continued development of a high-quality education system that helps young people to develop the knowledge, skills and values they need to live and work in a globalised economy.

In the past year, the Ministry of Education and Science has put in place ambitious development plans as part of its tri-lingual reforms. One of these reforms, the teaching of STEM subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Information Technology through the medium of English during the last three years of secondary school is due for nationwide implementation in 2019-2020. This builds on other recent reforms such as the introduction of compulsory English language lessons from the first year of primary school and the transition to programmes in higher and vocational education being increasingly delivered through the medium of the English language.

Role description – about the role
These terms of reference envisage us hiring a consultancy partner with expertise in pre-service and in-service teacher training and education, and preferably with knowledge and experience of working in/with countries of the former Soviet Union.

The consultancy partner will need to review the current state of the English language teaching system in Atyrau, including pre-service and in-service teacher training, with a particular focus on the secondary and higher education sectors but with due regard to primary and vocational sectors. This review will need to be related to the main ongoing and planned reforms. Consideration will also need to be given to current levels of institutional support, appropriateness of roles between pre-service and in-service bodies, sector and system linkages, teacher professional development and measures for improving the quality of training delivery.

It is expected that the consultancy will include one of more field visits in addition to relevant desk research. The consultancy may include more than one consultant if work/visits are to run concurrently and if this is the case, a team leader should be specified who will be responsible for ensuring that deliverables are met whilst providing technical support and guidance.

Outputs of consultancy.
• Evaluative review of teacher training and education system in Atyrau conducted with particular focus on English language teachers and subject teachers required to teach through the medium of English; the review will include the role and effectiveness of Atyrau State University’s contribution to teacher education within the Atyrau region.
• Recommended strategies to improve the teacher education system in Atyrau region clearly set out in alignment with national policies and reform plans.
• Options appraised and recommendations with supporting design – including likely technical and financial requirements – made for a 3-5 year project aimed at developing sustainable, high quality teaching capability and teacher training systems in the Atyrau region to improve learning outcomes for students.

Qualifications and experience required’
This consultancy would benefit from a combination of highly qualified international and national expertise with appropriate educational development and design experience. The consultant(s) should have relevant post-graduate qualifications in education and be able to demonstrate their institutional capability in relation to the terms of this assignment. Therefore, experience in evaluation/review of teacher training systems and educational programme design (related to the development of English language education systems) in secondary and higher education is essential. Management of institutional development and research in secondary and higher education teaching systems are desirable. The consultants should have proven ability to write clearly and analytically in English.