Technical Assistance to the Institutionalization of the National Learning Assessments for Iraq

Detailed description of project Back

UNICEF intends to support both Ministries of Education at Federal and KRG to enhance the capacity of the MoE’s Assessment Department to institutionalize national learning assessments with a view of monitoring the quality of teaching and learning on a regular basis, especially at the primary and intermediate levels.

Over the past decade, access to basic education has increased in Iraq, but the education system has been challenged to provide quality learning. The quality of education therefore remains a major concern in Iraq, with a need to improve learning outcomes, particularly in the foundational competencies – literacy, numeracy, and digital skills – which enable children to succeed in their learning. The government of Iraq has recently launched the Iraq National Education Strategy (INES, 2022-2031) including specific priorities to ensure equitable access to education with UNICEF providing

technical assistance to the Ministry of Education to design and implement Iraq’s first national learning assessment.

This assignment will involve working with the Ministries of Education at Federal and KRG and will include the following objectives:

1. Strengthen the institutional capacities of the learning assessment departments in the Federal and KRI MoEs to implement the national assessments.
2. Develop a detailed action plan with timelines and identify resources required to institutionalize the assessments in the future and regularise the NLAs.

Emphasis is placed on MoE capacity development and increased national ownership. Throughout the assignment, sustainability in the national capacity and ownership is prioritized by promoting the participation and leadership of key technical and strategic staff within the assessment departments.

To achieve the assignment’s objectives, the team members reviews existing policies for assessing learning outcomes, and identifies key MoE personnel to oversee key steps of assessment process. Technical support targets specific technical areas that still need improvements by conducting face-to-face workshops to facilitate the technical work, including analysis of the results. Furthermore, the experts develop a detailed action plan with timelines and identify resources required to institutionalize the assessments in the future. A common template for the action plan is in turn developed at the national level so it can be used at both Federal/KRI and potentially at governorate levels.

Type of services provided

PROMAN teams at headquarters (HQ) provides backstopping and quality assurance (AQ).

Main staff provided :

• Team Leader 1: 76 wd
• Key International Education Expert: 64 wd
• National Education Expert 1: 74 wd
• National Education Expert 2: 74 wd
• Regional Expert: 82 wd