About Pratham
Pratham was founded in 1995, to provide preschool education to children in the slums of Mumbai. Over the last 30 years, Pratham has grown to be one of the largest non-profit organizations working to provide quality education to children and youth in over 25 states and union territories across the country, through a range of interventions.
Pratham is a widely recognized organization, having received notable awards such as the Lui Che Woo Prize, the WISE Prize for Innovation, the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, the Henry R Kravis Prize in Leadership and the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year for Public Service. For more details, refer to the Pratham Education Foundation Website.
About the Project
Pratham Education Foundation and ASER Centre will jointly undertake a 3-year research study on the durability of foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) at scale in India. The research is possible due to the funding provided by the What Works Hub for Global Education (WWHGE)and will initially be for a period of 3 years from April 2024 to March 2027. The goal is to understand and improve classroom practice at scale via ongoing, fast, practice-relevant research.
Often the translation of policy into practice happens in a top-down way. However it is important to understand more clearly the process of how a policy from the top lands on the ground and how practice is changed (or unchanged) in classrooms. The research will focus on four key domains:
- Analyse what teachers are usually expected to deliver (‘business as usual’) and compare that with the new teaching-learning improvement efforts (NIPUN Bharat and Uttar Pradesh’s FLN Mission). This would involve analysis of training packages, curriculum frameworks, textbooks, learning materials and assessments (business as usual v/s newer efforts).
- Focus on teaching-learning delivery structures and mechanisms. This aspect includes training and academic support – what were these like before reform efforts (structure and practices), and what has changed after the introduction of concerted NIPUN-related inputs?
- Understand teacher mindsets and beliefs – what were they before, and what are they now? How will they change (or not) as the interventions roll out and hopefully become embedded in the system?
- Observation, experimentation, and tracking at school and class level. These are focused on ground-level implementation—close observation of what happens in the classroom over time. Children’s progress (in reading and basic arithmetic) will be tracked periodically using simple methods and metrics that are useable by teachers and useful for them.
Roles & Responsibilities
The responsibilities for this role are as follows:
- Provide comprehensive planning and implementation support for the assigned project to ensure timely and efficient execution.
- Act as a state and central team liaison, ensuring effective communication and coordination.
- Manage operational logistics, including organising training sessions, review meetings – internal & external, and field visits.
- Oversee administrative tasks such as budgeting, reporting, and documentation to support project requirements.
- Ensure adherence to project timelines and deliverables by monitoring progress and addressing potential roadblocks.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to identify areas for improvement and implement solutions to optimise project outcomes.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- This role is for candidates interested in project management. We are looking for candidates who are open and willing to learn, can take ownership, and work under minimum supervision.
- The candidate must commit to a minimum of two years.
- Qualifications: Minimum graduate, preferred degree in Education, Sociology, Public Policy, or other relevant social science disciplines. A postgraduate degree will be an added advantage.
- Work experience: Candidates must have at least 2 years of demonstrable experience in project management and coordination. The following skills are required:
- Candidates must be proficient in the Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.).
- Proficient in written and spoken English and Hindi is mandatory. Fluency in other regional languages will be an added advantage.
- Ability to build rapport with people from various academic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
- Able to multi-task, handle work pressure and deliver under tight schedules.
- Comfortable working in a fast-changing work environment; comfortable and open to extensive field travel, often at short notice.
- Familiar with rural contexts.
- Open to working in a rural setting with basic facilities.
Application Process
Please attach your CV and cover letter (not exceeding 500 words) as a single document to the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqoQHqW1T2tsIu3ClkQvmB2stmTpAw3pSr05hIey8jKxGOpQ/viewform?usp=sf_link.
- Applications that do not follow this protocol will be at a disadvantage.
- Candidates should also submit a written sample (not exceeding 1,000 words) on any topic and a cover letter.
- Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an initial interview.
- Successful candidates from the screening stage will be further required to complete an assignment and attend a final interview.
- The expected timeline to hear back on the application for the first round of screening will be 5-7 days. The entire process is expected to last a month.
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Serious candidates are encouraged to apply at the earliest.
- Location: Pratham Office – New Delhi (with frequent travel to Uttar Pradesh and other relevant states)
Deadline for applying: 31st December 2024
