Literacy Consultant for Reading Pilot Program, Vietnam

Organization Profile:
Room to Read is a non-government organization working to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond. Their long-term goal is to help 10 million children to gain the lifelong gift of education.

They currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Zambia - countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. Since their inception, Room to Read's worldwide team has impacted over 5 million children by constructing more than 1,400 schools, establishing over 10,700 libraries, publishing 521 new children's book titles in 11 local languages, and putting over 10,400 girls onto long-term, holistic scholarships.

Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$30 million and their global staff numbers over 350. Their global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and they have smaller fundraising offices in New York, Hong Kong, London, Tokyo and Delhi. They have an Asia Regional Office located in New Delhi, a Southern Africa Regional Office in Pretoria, and program offices in Colombo, Dhaka, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane.

Room to Read’s Literacy Strategy
Literacy is part of the right to a basic education and is crucial for economic, social and political participation and development. In order for children to acquire literacy skills to become lifelong readers and learners, one crucial input is regular access to books and other reading materials, which are scarce in many of the communities where Room to Read operates. Since their inception, they have witnessed that children often do not have the grade-appropriate literacy skills needed to take full advantage of the Reading Room and Local Language Publishing resources. To achieve the long term goal of helping all children become independent readers at the primary level, Room to Read has initiated pilot programs for reading instruction and reading skills enrichment in primary schools. The pilots focus on providing teachers with language teaching and learning methodologies through training workshops and supplemental teaching and learning materials/aids to support existing national language learning instruction in the schools where they work. Their learning from the pilots will help them develop a strategy that both capitalizes on their organizational strengths built over the last decade and defines a clear and carefully constructed path to the goal of increased literacy and a habit of reading in the children with whom they work.

In Vietnam, Room to Read has completed in-depth research on the teaching and learning of the Vietnamese language in primary schools, including a student reading assessment, analysis of textbooks/curriculum, classroom observations, and teachers’ interviews. The development of pilot program which will include material/resources and an in-service training program will now be carried out to support teachers and children with the teaching and learning of reading in the Vietnamese language. This work will be followed by the launch of a pilot program in selected primary schools and ultimately the rollout of a literacy strategy in the years to come.

Position Overview
Room to Read is seeking Literacy Consultant for their Literacy Pilot Program in Vietnam. She/he will work in collaboration with the Literacy Team, as well as local consultants, on all aspects of developing a literacy pilot that is in line with Room to Read’s new strategic plan for on literacy. In collaboration with the Room to Read Country Team and Global Literacy Team, the Literacy Consultant is responsible for providing technical assistance and support on all aspects of Vietnam’s literacy pilot development. This position will be based in Ho Chi Minh City and will report directly to the Program Director.

Roles & Responsibilities:
- Provide support and technical assistance to RtR Vietnam for the new literacy pilot. Such duties will include supporting the country team with the following:
1. Review existing reports and resources on Vietnam’s primary education and reports on children’s reading assessment and classroom observations to develop a background understanding of the current situation of the teaching and learning of the Vietnamese language curriculum and children’s reading in primary schools in Vietnam.
2. Work in collaboration with the RtR Vietnam Country Office to design the Literacy Pilot Program for Vietnam which may include the following components:
- A comprehensive pilot program consisting of trainings, workshops, classroom observations, teacher coaching and supporting activities, in addition to a work plan for implementation;
- An in-service professional training plan for classroom teachers, school principals and literacy facilitators to develop their knowledge of children’s literacy/reading, teaching and learning strategies to enhance children’s reading skills and their habit of reading;
- A resource book for primary teachers with instructions of how to implement simple reading activities to develop children’s reading skills with the implementation of the Vietnamese language curriculum;
- Simple guidelines for establishing a learning environment to encourage children’s literacy development;
- Other materials as needed
- Work with the Literary Program Team on the design of the Literacy Pilot and other relevant Program Teams for  their collaboration of the implementation of the Literacy Program;
- Support and mentor a Literacy Program Officer with the design of the Literacy Pilot including specific components as mentioned above;
- Communicate with Regional and Global Office Literacy Team on the pilot design and resource development;
- Network with other non-profits running similar programs to find areas of collaboration and knowledge sharing; and
- Participate in any other activities which may be required to fulfill the objectives of the pilot.

Timeframe
The consultancy will commence in mid April 2011 and take place for six (6) months.

Job Qualifications & Requirements:
- A master’s degree in a related field of study
- Prior experience living and/or working in Vietnam
- A minimum of five years of professional experience
- Experience with reading/literacy or learning improvement programs and excellent knowledge and understanding of teaching methodologies and teacher training at primary stage
- Experience developing educational learning materials for students or teachers
- Experience developing and conducting training programs for teachers
- Experience in language education at the primary stage
- Experience teaching at the primary stage
- Strong planning, supervising and program development skills
- Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people and organizations
- Ability and desire to work in Vietnam
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
- Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously

Application Procedure:
Please send a cover letter and CV/resume by email, with “Application – VN Literacy Consultant” in the subject line, (no letters, calls, faxes, or drop-ins) to [email protected]  before 02 April 2011.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.