Closing date

05 May 2025

Assessment Specialist; Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Republic of Tajikistan
Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project
Consulting Services
Contract No: MOES/LEARN/S/2025-24

Position: Assessment Specialist
Issuance Date: 22 April 2025
Closing Date/Time: 05 May 2025, 17:00 (Dushanbe Time)

BACKGROUND

The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has received grant funding in the amount of US$50.0 million from the World Bank for the implementation of the "Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project” (the Project, LEARN) during 2023-2029. The Project will be implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science (MOES), and in close coordination with the Agency for Supervision in the Sphere of Education and Science (ASSES).

The Project Development Objective is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning environments in selected general secondary schools.

“Teaching and Learning environment” in this project refers to the complete physical, social, and pedagogical context in which learning is intended to occur. The teaching and learning environment in this project is defined as consisting of the skills and competencies of teachers and physical learning spaces where learning occurs[1]. It is school settings (not just classrooms) and contexts in which students learn and teachers teach within the school premises.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The specialist will collaborate closely with MOES, the National Testing Center (NTC), international experts, and development partners to ensure the effective execution of assessment activities. The aim is to guarantee accurate data collection, thorough data analysis, and clear dissemination of results to inform education policy and improve learning outcomes nationwide.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE SCOPE OF WORK

  • Provide technical support for implementation of international studies and assessments, educational observations, and surveys (e.g. PIRLS 2026), assisting with the organizational, communication and planning;
  • Support the implementation of assessments and related surveys, ensuring activities adhere to project timelines and quality standards;
  • Contribute to the analysis of assessment data, support report preparation, and assist with the dissemination of findings to project stakeholders;
  • Work with the project’s international assessment consultant and other team members to assist in designing and implementing assessments, reviewing data, preparing reports, and supporting findings dissemination;
  • Oversee the development of approaches to improve the effectiveness of school-based assessments, applying project findings to support education policies;
  • Coordinate with MOES, National Testing Center (NTC), Agency for Supervision in the Sphere of Education and Science (ASES), and other key partners to support collaboration on assessment activities;
  • Provide support in organizing capacity-building activities for MOES employees and other educational institutions, focusing on assessment skills and methods;
  • Assist in coordinating study tours to countries with similar education contexts to explore international best practices in large-scale learning assessments;
  • Collaborate with international experts in planning an international or national conference on evaluation, supporting logistical and technical preparations;
  • Attend and participate in regular meetings with agencies involved in assessment implementation, including the Department of Quality Education, NTC, and RTMC, to ensure alignment on objectives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The candidate should meet the following qualifications:

  • A Bachelor’s degree in education, assessment, measurement, or a closely related field.
  • At least 3 years of experience in educational assessment, ideally with involvement in sample-based large-scale assessments or similar projects.
  • Familiarity with statistical analysis and data interpretation using relevant tools and software (e.g., SPSS, Excel, or other statistical software).
  • Basic understanding of psychometric analysis, including classical test theory and item response theory.
  • Awareness of approaches for improving and designing effective school-based assessments.
  • Report-writing abilities with demonstrated skills in preparing clear and concise reports based on assessment findings.
  • Knowledge of education quality management principles and the fundamentals of enhancing teaching and learning environments.
  • Strong organizational and planning skills.
  • Effective communication and teamwork skills, including facilitation abilities.
  • Ability to collaborate with team members, clients, and key stakeholders.
  • Proficiency in office software (e.g., MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with a good command of spreadsheets.
  • Proficiency in Tajik and Russian, and a basic working knowledge of English is preferred.

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS

  • Duration: 12 months, with an initial 3-month probationary period. The contract may be extended for additional 12-month periods based on mutual agreement and performance evaluation.
  • Location: Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
  • Reporting: The Assessment Specialist will report to the Project Director and will work under the direction of the Project Manager and Chief Assessment Specialist.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and a cover letter in both Russian and English to the following email addresses:

Please ensure the position title is included in the subject line of your email.

The deadline for submitting applications is 05 May 2025, by 17:00 (Dushanbe time).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The attention of interested consultants is drawn to Sections III, paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” (July 2016, revised November 2017, August 2018, and November 2020), which outlines the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Mr. Muzaffarzoda Badriddin
Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan,

Director of the Learning Environment – 

Foundation of Quality Project (LEARN)
Nisormuhammad str. 13a, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Tel/Fax: (+992 37) 227-25-69
 

[1] Schools that are designed based on principles of improving teaching and learning environment efficiency – both in terms of fostering of learning outcomes and efficiency of construction – lead to better collaboration and experimentation by children and allow use of modern pedagogical techniques.