Company Profile

Discovery Learning Alliance (DLA) is a US-based non-profit organisation using the power of media to improve student learning outcomes, teacher effectiveness and community engagement in schools in the developing world. See www.thepoweroftv.orgfor more information. In many countries, girls continue to face barriers to accessing a quality basic education. This is the focus of Discovery Girls. with DFID and Discovery Communications support, the project will reach hundreds of schools and communities across Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria over the next 2-3 years. DLA is inviting applications for the two senior-most positions of the project team, to be based in Tamale - the overall Project Manager and the Training & Outreach Manager. In the near future, we will be advertising for additional positions responsible for teacher training and community outreach.

Job Description

• Location: Tamale
• Duration: 12 months (with the possibility of extension)

In many countries, children continue to face barriers to accessing and achieving a quality basic education.  For a second three-year phase, the Discovery Project will continue to address this challenge, reaching hundreds of primary and junior secondary schools and communities and increasing the quality of education and boys’ and girls’ enrolment, attendance, learning, retention and transition across Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.  

With strong support and guidance from the Senior Management Team and under the supervision of the Training Coordinator, the Literacy/Numeracy and Remedial Support Coordinator provides overall technical oversight and guidance to the project’s support to improved literacy and numeracy instruction and learning outcomes. With a concentrated focus on learning outcomes and working closely with the Training & Outreach Manager, Training Coordinator and Training Team, the Literacy/ Numeracy and Remedial Support Coordinator will help to maximize literacy and numeracy gains in project schools. The position will require significant local travel to project sites.

Main Responsibilities

1. Provide technical direction and feedback to implementation of the project’s Learning Strategy for Literacy and Numeracy in project schools, toward meaningful, measurable gains at an accelerated pace, including through providing remedial support for upper primary students.
2. Help coordinate the combination of project activity and approaches in literacy and numeracy across DLA schools.
3. Guide the training team’s support to classroom teachers’ identification of students that require remedial support in literacy and numeracy and place students through teachers’ assessment of performance on end-of-term exams and ongoing formative assessment and their placement in groups according to their levels.
4. Guide and support remedial instructors’ preparation of their learning plans to incorporate evidence-based strategies for underachieving students, including students with disabilities
5. Coordinate the DLA team’s ongoing support to remedial instructors and monitoring and testing of remedial learners.
6. Support the school in coordinating and accounting for the activities of volunteer remedial teachers.
7. Regularly visit project schools to ensure progress and assist where necessary.
8. Coordinate analysis and reflection on whether and how literacy and numeracy-focused activities, including remedial support, are leading to desired learning improvements and identification of lessons learned and proposed adaptations over time.
9. Help ensure that all monitoring and reporting requirements are met, including, in close collaboration with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer, coordinating school-wide (targeting P4-6 and especially P5 to start) tracking and documentation of students’ and particularly girls’ performance in literacy and numeracy.
10. Ensure DLA’s guidance and support to remedial programs promote their being gender inclusive and safe spaces in line with established Child Rights and Child Protection norms.
11. Work with the project team, supported by Circuit Supervisors and Head Teachers, to verify remedial activity and accompanying payments of monthly incentives to volunteer teachers.
12. Additional duties as required.

Required Skills or Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree in education is required with experience/training in literacy and numeracy pedagogy.
2. Minimum 5 years teaching and training experience in primary school instruction in Literacy and Numeracy preferred.
3. Training experience in an international development program setting, particularly with girls’ education and/or educational technology initiatives with a focus on primary level literacy and numeracy, is strongly preferred.
4. Experience developing and implementing child-centred and gender responsive programs.
5. Clear understanding of educational priorities and the primary and/or secondary school curriculum.
6. Demonstrated project coordination competencies.
7. Demonstrated commitment to program effectiveness, impact and learning. 
8. Excellent communications, team-building and organizational skills. 
9. Excellent cross-cultural, relational and interpersonal skills, including patience, diplomacy, willingness to listen, and respect for partners and colleagues.
10. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.  Must be flexible, willing to work irregular hours, and adaptable to changing circumstances.  Must also possess demonstrated problem solving and conflict management skills.
11. Ability to start immediately. The position is expected to last a duration of 12 months.
12. National of Ghana.  Proficiency in English Language and one additional language spoken in the northern region of Ghana required.