SCA implementing programme for teacher educators

KABUL Department at the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry of Education had requested a Master Programme for Teacher Educators in Afghanistan, with the SCA elaborating the current proposal. The four-year programme includes a preparation phase (curriculum development, recruitment, training in English, computer skills, study techniques, etc).

An SCA statement said participants would be registered at Karlstad University in Sweden. The Programme will be delivered as commissioned training through Karlstad University Professional Services AB, which will be sub-contracted by SCA.

There will be three annual intakes (2011, 2012, 2013), each preceded by preparatory training of five months. Female candidates will be encouraged to participate and the ambition is to get 50 percent of female participants.

Didactics, general as well as subject didactics, and theories of learning are among the salient features of the programme, which will include reflection on own experiences, fieldwork practices and group work discussions in relation to theories and models.

According to the statement, the training will take place in Kabul and will be provided in English on a semi-distance basis (face-to-face sessions, video transmissions, self-studies).

The participants will have to agree to employment as teacher educators for at least three years after graduation. They will be allowed to study on a half-time basis without salary loss.

Besides continuous monitoring, the programme will include midterm reviews well as a final evaluation, which will have importance for a possible continuation.

The initiative aims to train a cadre of teacher educators at MA level, who are able to design, implement and evaluate relevant and adequate teacher training programmes of high quality and which consider the social, economic, cultural and Islamic context of Afghanistan.

At the end of 2014, a total of 90 teacher educators – 30 in each year from 2012 to 2014, will be awarded a Master Degree in Education Sciences through Karlstad University.  

In addition, each year 60 TEMP candidates (including the 90 admitted in TEMP) will receive a five months preparatory training in English, computer and basic research and academic writings.

The main target group is teacher educators in the ministry and teacher training colleges (TTCs). Six educationists from SCA and four from other organisations, only female, will be admitted. Applicants must fulfil entry requirements of Swedish universities.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) is assumed to finance the programme, for which SCA has the ultimate responsibility, including financial management. SCA sub-contracts Karlstad University to implement the programme. 

SCA is responsible for administration and logistics and for contacts with SIDA, including reporting. SCA is the formal project owner and intermediate between MoE and Karlstad University, the implementing partner.

The Ministry of Education, the mental owner of the programme, is both partner and main beneficiary. MoE is responsible for provision of facilities such as classrooms, hostel, etc throughout TEMP.

Karlstad University is responsible for implementing the programme — training, supervision and examination, and reports regularly to SCA. KAU’s duties are outlined in Terms of Reference and will be further elaborated upon in a contract.

A Steering Committee with representatives from SCA, MoE and Karlstad University will oversee the implementation of the programme and decide on issues of comprehensive character, such as roles and responsibilities between the partners. Apart from ensuring that the project follows the plan operationally and financially and meets its objectives, the Steering Committee will follow the overall progress, and will, if needed, provide recommendations of corrective measures. In particular, the Steering Committee will follow up the risk analysis.

pr/mud

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