Inactive

The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Jordan, is seeking input from interested organizations and individuals who may provide com... The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Jordan, is seeking input from interested organizations and individuals who may provide comments, opinions and recommendations in response to the proposed project approach and questions outlined in this Request for Information (RFI) announcement.

Inactive

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE BACKGROUND USAID/Jordan is considering a project to increase the preparedness of future Grade 4-10 teachers in Jordan by improving the pre-service teacher education programming o... SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE BACKGROUND USAID/Jordan is considering a project to increase the preparedness of future Grade 4-10 teachers in Jordan by improving the pre-service teacher education programming offered by Jordanian universities. Under the current system, the Ministry of Education (MoE) prerequisites for becoming a Grade 1-3 teacher in Jordan require aspiring teachers to obtain a bachelor's degree from recognized educational institutions. This degree offers pre-service teacher education that is intended to equip teachers with the pedagogical skills they need to enter a school classroom on day-one of their new career. The pathway to becoming a Grade 4-10 teacher, however, prioritizes specialist content knowledge over pedagogical knowledge, with future teachers being recruited upon graduation from subject-specific bachelor degrees (e.g., biology), rather than bachelor of education degrees. Universities do not currently offer courses to bridge this gap between specific subject-matter expertise and essential pedagogical skills. While Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA) offers a postgraduate pre-service training course that has been widely recognized, it is currently offered only in Amman, and cannot alone meet the needs of the MoE for qualified Grade 4-10 teachers across the country. SERVICES AND TASKS REQUIRED This project would support four selected universities and relevant Government of Jordan (GoJ) entities in the introduction and implementation of a sustainable and scalable pre-service teacher education program, centered primarily around the utilization of the adapted QRTA pre-service teacher education modules (the "Pre-Service Modules"). In addition, the project would work with the GoJ on essential reforms related to pre-service teacher education more broadly to ensure the success of the Pre-Service Modules and other pre-service teacher training models that the GoJ has identified. 1. Outcome 1: Participating universities successfully implement the Pre-Service Modules. Successful implementation of the Pre-Service Modules entails changes in systems, management, and communication at the university level. The project would work with the selected universities to incorporate the Pre-Service Modules into their curricula, build necessary relationships with local schools for the practicum portion of the diploma, and make necessary policy modifications and resource allocations. As a result, universities should be well placed to obtain accreditation of the Pre-Service Modules by the relevant bodies, and students should be recognized by the MoE as being adequately qualified to become teachers. The success of the implementation of the Pre-Service Modules would also be measured by taking into account how university leadership, faculty, and students were prepared and supported in the transition to the new model. 2. Outcome 2: Participating universities' Pre-Service Modules are well subscribed by male and female students Attracting students to enroll in the Pre-Service Modules will be a challenge, due to the various factors unique to each region, university, and student background. Based on identified MoE needs, the project would ensure that the yearly target-number of male and female students in each university are properly enrolled and have completed the Pre-Service Modules. Pre-registration of prospective students for subsequent years of the program would be also be a good indication of the success of the recruitment drive and enable universities to better plan for future cohorts; improved student perceptions of the teaching profession will be another good indicator. The MoE and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHE) will also have an important role to play in promoting teaching as a rewarding career choice, and in positively influencing students to register for the Pre-Service Modules. 3. Outcome 3: GoJ systems, policies, and practices related to pre-service teacher education are improved. Improving the overall framework related to pre-service teacher education requires numerous, interdependent reforms to be put in place across a variety of GoJ systems. The project would work with the GoJ to determine which reforms are needed, and work with the relevant entities to ensure that they have broad support and are aligned with each other. In addition, the project should be able to demonstrate that collaboration and coordination among the various government stakeholders has increased, and that much needed data on this topic is being gathered and used to guide decision-making. 4. Outcome 4: Other selected universities are well positioned to deliver diverse models of high quality pre-service teacher education. While the project would primarily be centered around the successful implementation of the Pre-Service Modules in participating universities, USAID anticipates that some universities may independently work to take different paths to align themselves with the new policies and regulations on pre-service teacher education. If this Outcome is implemented, the project would provide support and guidance to such universities in navigating the new regulatory landscape, and enable planning for changes to their programs, taking into consideration their varying levels of capacity and resources. The project would ensure that the selected universities are making progress in developing high quality pre-service teacher education programs, and that they have developed feasible plans for human, material, and financial resource allocation to support the roll-out of such programs. CAPABILITY STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS This call is for US and Non-US organizations capable of performing the project described above on a national scale in Jordan. The items below must be addressed in the response: 1. A two to three page statement describing the firm's experience in relation to the services being required, and its capability to execute the services and tasks described in this notice, with specific emphasis on implementing activities supporting and building the capacity of higher education institutions. 2. A one-page table (Sample Table A below) of this notice with a list of between three and seven past or current projects demonstrating relevant work experience in the items listed under the Services and Tasks Required section, above, at the prime or subcontractor/awardee level. TABLE A Project Overview Country Year (From - To) Point of Contact Phone Email 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Responses must not exceed four (4) pages, including Table A. Any organization responding to this Sources Sought Notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform this work. Written capability statements must be received no later than February 3, 2019, at 4 pm, Jordan Time. These submissions must be sent via email ONLY to the following address: contracting1@usaid.gov. In the subject line of the email write: PRESTIJ Capability Statement - Sources Sought Notice. Fax and hand carried submissions will not be accepted. Phone inquiries will not be entertained. This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government to issue any RFP or NFO, or ultimately award a contract or assistance agreement on the basis of this notice, or to pay for any information voluntarily submitted as a result of this notice. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. Responses to this notice are strictly voluntary and the U.S. Government will not pay respondents for information provided. Responses to this notice will not be returned and respondents will not be notified of the result of this review. If a Solicitation is issued, it will be announced at a later date, and all interested parties must respond to that Solicitation announcement separately from any response to this notice. This notice does not restrict the Government's acquisition approach on a future Solicitation.