Consultant

Description:

The Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) invites applications for hiring a dynamic psychometrician as a Consultant to assist in developing and implementing the National Assessment Framework (NAF) for Grades 9-12, establishing and maintaining Question Item Bank, ensuring the quality of test items, and psychometric analysis of Boards’ papers and results. This initiative represents a significant step forward in enhancing the quality of education in Pakistan by establishing a robust student assessment system that aligns with international standards while being sensitive to local cultural and academic contexts and provides valuable feedback to all stakeholders. 
 
2. Background 
Education is the cornerstone of national development, equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to thrive in a dynamic global environment. Assessment plays a critical role in this process by measuring student performance, driving educational improvements, identifying learning gaps, and guiding policy decisions. The IBCC, comprising the chairpersons and chief executives of member examination boards and allied organizations, has embarked on developing the NAF to address gaps in current assessment practices. The framework is being developed in collaboration with various Federal and Provincial Government departments to set minimum standards for quality assessments and effective testing across all educational boards in Pakistan. 
3. Scope of Work 
The selected consultant will work closely with the IBCC and its partners to develop a comprehensive National Assessment Framework that covers the following components: 
• Assessment Standards: Define minimum standards for student assessments at secondary and higher secondary levels, drawing on international benchmarks. 
 
• Assessment Tools and Techniques: Develop and recommend assessment tools and techniques that are effective, fair, and aligned with the defined standards. 
 
• Implementation Guidelines: Provide clear and detailed guidelines for the phased implementation of the framework across different educational boards in Pakistan. 
 
• Reporting and Feedback Mechanisms: Design mechanisms for reporting assessment outcomes and providing feedback to stakeholders, including students, teachers, policymakers, and educational boards. Exam Result Designing and developing an interactive Exam Result Dashboard for nationallevel exam results data, enabling policymakers to make informed decisions. 
 
• Professional Development and Training: Ensuring the integration of data from all educational boards across Pakistan. Providing training to relevant IBCC staff on the use and maintenance of the dashboard. Conducting professional development training for teachers, paper-setters, and officers involved in assessment and equivalence. Training educators on writing effective test items aligned with national Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). Assisting in the development of training materials and resources. 
 
• Research and Data Analysis: Conducting research to transform assessment data into meaningful information that supports informed decision-making. Performing item analysis of exam papers, including Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs), short questions, and long questions. Providing insights and recommendations based on data analysis to improve assessment practices. 
4. Consultant’s Qualifications and Experience 
The consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience: 
• Advanced University degree, preferably PhD in Education, Educational Assessment, Educational Statistics, Public Policy, Research Methods, or a related field, with a minimum of 5 years of practical working experience 
• Demonstrated capacity in providing advisory services at the strategic level and proven experience in developing national or regional assessment frameworks 
• Command over international education standards and assessment systems with extensive experience in educational assessment, data analysis, and professional development 
• Experience working with government agencies, educational boards, and other stakeholders in the education sector is preferable 
5. Outcomes of Consultancy 
• National Assessment Framework for Grades 9 - 12 with its implementation plan and necessary digital tools for every facet of National Assessment Framework, its deployment and usage 
• Conceive, plan, and implement digitalization, preferably AI-based solutions, of the IBCC processes, data representation to make policy decisions, and Capacity Building workshops and training sessions. 
6. Submission Requirements 
Interested consultants are required to submit their EOI, including the following: 
• A cover letter outlining their interest and suitability for the project 
• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting relevant qualifications and experience 
• A portfolio of previous work, including examples of similar projects completed 
• A brief proposal outlining the approach to be taken to streamline and finalize the framework, including timelines and key milestones. 
7. Evaluation Criteria 
Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 
• Relevant qualifications and experience 
• Quality and relevance of previous work 
• Understanding of the project scope and proposed approach 
• Ability to work collaboratively with the IBCC and other stakeholders 
• Proposed timeline and deliverables 
8. Selection Procedure and Submission Deadline