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UNESCO seeks the services of a consultant to support the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) through the National Curriculum Development Centre in Lesotho to review and finalize Grade 8 Life Skills-Based Sexuality Education (LBSE) syllabus and develop scripted lesson plans in alignment with the syllabus. The consultancy includes a desk review of the draft syllabus document and other related LBSE documents, filling of identified gaps in collaboration with LBSE subject panel while building their capacity to develop scripted lesson plans.

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) is mandated to advance Sustainable Development (SDG) Goal 4 alongside all other SDGs, which are fully dependent on the effective implementation of SDG4 targets. This includes improving health outcomes through school health which is much broader than conducting random awareness about health issues and making schools outreach centres for health service provision. Deliberate mainstreaming of health education, in particular education for health and well-being in the school curricular harmonizes the principle of a healthy and safe learning environment leading to children learning better and educated children making healthy choices. Adolescence is a stage where most young people begin to discover themselves and question the changes they experience physically, emotionally and sexually. It is at this stage that the education system becomes most relevant as the custodian of accurate information for children and young people to make healthy and informed decisions. It is based on this that the Ministries of Education across the east and southern region affirmed the East and Southern African Ministerial Commitment on ensuring that young people in schools receive age- appropriate and scientifically accurate information about their health and growth through Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). Lesotho endorsed the commitment and has successfully institutionalized CSE in the school curricular, naming it Life Skills Based Sexuality Education (LBSE). 

Institutionalization of LBSE was and continues to be informed by the following legal and strategic documents; HIV and AIDS Policy (2011), Curriculum and Assessment Policy (2009), Education Sector Strategic Plan (2016 – 2026) and Lesotho Basic Education Curriculum Policy (2022). The curriculum has been offered since 2014 as integrated from Grade 4 – 6 and stand-alone up to Grade 11. The SERAT report on the evaluation of LBSE indicates satisfactory coverage of the CSE content, with some aspects such as human development and deliberate development of skill and attitudes as weak. There are also some equally important aspects of sexuality education and safety which were not part of the LBSE curricular such as school related gender-based violence which need to be strengthened.  Disability inclusion is also another aspect that was not paid attention to during the initial development of LBSE curriculum. Years later UNESCO supported the Ministry to develop the addendum to the curricular across all levels for disability inclusion, to ascertain the Leave No One Behind principle. 

While the quality of instructional materials plays a critical role towards effective teaching and learning, anecdotal data from MOET indicates that due to the sensitivity of some LBSE topics, some teachers struggle with preparation and packaging of lessons, resulting in selective teaching. This to a large extend impacts on the quality of the delivery of information critically essential for learners’ ability to make healthy and life-saving decisions about their health. 

It is in this context that the Ministry of Education and Training is in the process of reviewing the Grade 8 school curricular including Life Skills based Sexuality Education. The review of LBSE aims to ensure inclusion of all the identified gaps for quality content and improved teaching and learning. To achieve these, the Ministry has already developed the Logic Model, selected content and developed a draft Grade 8 syllabus document.  The Ministry further intends to develop scripted lesson plans for LBSE across all levels, beginning with Grade 8 to support teachers with effective and quality delivery. The Scripted lesson plans will not only ease the teachers’ workload but shall also enforce standardization of content coverage across the country and ultimately structured monitoring and supportive supervision. 

Themes across LBSE curriculum for Lesotho:

• Knowing Oneself and Living with others: The theme covers body image, relationships and long-term commitments, values and goal setting.

• Human Rights and Child Protection: The theme covers human rights, children’s rights and responsibilities, human rights and sexuality, child marriage, child protection and laws.

• Gender Norms and Gender Equality: The theme covers gender and sex, gender norms and stereotypes, gender and power, GBV and SGBV, SRGBV and bullying, reporting GBV and referrals. (CWR integrated in this theme).

• Sexual and Reproductive Health: The theme covers abstinence, puberty and adolescence, myths and misconceptions about puberty, human anatomy and physiology, sexual feelings, menstruation, wet dreams and pregnancy, pregnancy prevention.

• STIs including HIV: The theme covers understanding STIs and HIV, transmission, prevention, myths and misconceptions, testing, treatment and adherence, stigma and discrimination.

• Drugs, alcohol and substance abuse: The theme covers myths and misconceptions, risks and consequences, addiction, effects on sexual behaviour.

Quality and appropriateness of the subject matter (content in this case) in LBSE determine the long-term outcomes in the lives of children and young people. LBSE aims to provide comprehensive and age-appropriate scientifically accurate information about young people’s growth, health and sexuality. While the yields are noticeable over a long constant teaching and learning period, it is imperative that the comprehensiveness is well articulated through documents guiding delivery, meaning the instructional materials must include, not only content but the skills and attitudes targeted. Another critical feature for effective delivery of LBSE is use of appropriate participatory teaching methodologies such as role-plays; group discussions; pair work; debates and brainstorming which compel learners to relate to the issues, and ultimately self-discover. Participatory methods also allow learners to learn from each other and sharpen their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They also provide an opportunity for learners to practise skills such as communication, decision-making, assertiveness and stress management which are crucial for the application of the knowledge they acquire in Life Skills Based Sexuality Education. However, not all teachers are confident in using such methodologies and resort to methods which provide little room for learners to engage on very important issues related to sexuality education.

The Ministry of Education and Training in Lesotho, like other countries in the region aims to ensure that all instructional materials are of quality and are comprehensive enough to make noticeable impact in learners’ behaviour and attitudes. The Ministry is further cognisant of the delivery gaps brought about by teachers’ limitations in packaging their lessons to achieve the objectives as set out in the syllabus documents. To achieve these, the Ministry intends to ensure development of comprehensive instructional materials which include scripted lesson plans for teachers. The Ministry further appreciates the limited technical capacity in the country to develop the materials as stipulated.

It is against this background that UNESCO seeks the services of a consultant to review the current LBSE documents to finalize Grade 8 syllabus, train the subject panel on the development of scripted lesson plans while developing Grade 8 scripted lesson plan with the team.

The objectives of this consultancy are to review and finalise Grade 8 syllabus document and develop lesson plans for the finalised syllabus document. 

The specific objectives are to:

• Identify gaps in the draft Grade 8 syllabus document against the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education (ITGSE) and Sexuality Education Review and Assessment Tool (SERAT) report.

• Review Grade 8 draft syllabus document to ensure comprehensive coverage of the knowledge, skills and attitudinal objectives and alignment of activities and assessment criteria with the content.

• Develop Grade 8 LBSE scripted lesson plans in collaboration with the subject panel as part of their capacity building.

UNESCO seeks the services of a consultant to do the following:

1. Conduct a desk review of the Logic Model, Scope and Sequence Chart and draft Grade 8 syllabus document and make recommendations.

2. In line with the recommendations, finalise the Grade 8 draft syllabus document ensuring there is comprehensive coverage of: 

   • Aim of the theme (for all six LBSE themes).

   • Learning objectives per theme, focusing on knowledge, skills and attitudes.

   • Concepts, fully aligned to the learning objectives.

   • Learning experiences.

   • Well-detailed and articulate assessment criteria.

3. Develop Grade 8 scripted lesson plans in collaboration with the subject panel as part of capacity development of the team through face-to-face interaction.

4. Produce a guide with detailed processes followed in the development of the two documents.

The deliverables for this consultancy are: 

6. 1 Inception report, showing understanding of the assignment. 

6.2 Final Grade 8 Life Skills Based Sexuality Education syllabus document.

6.3 Final Grade 8 Life Skills Based Sexuality Education scripted lesson plans.

6.4 Technical guide on the processes for development of the Life Skills Based Sexuality Education syllabus and scripted lesson plans. 

6.5 Consultancy technical report

It is mandatory for the consultant to have all the following:

• Master’s degree in education or higher, specializing in Curriculum Design and Development, Sexuality Education, Public Health or related fields.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in development of teaching materials for Comprehensive Sexuality Education.
• Demonstrated experience supporting governments in similar assignment(s).
• Proven writing, communication and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated excellent report writing skills.

The consultant will report to UNESCO Lesotho office in Maseru and the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Interested candidates must submit a proposal indicating approach for the assignment and budget. Please include a sample report of a similar assignment in your submission. Submission of proposals should be sent to vacancies.harare@unesco.org no later than 10 November 2024.