Creative Associates International is seeking potential entities to conduct a baseline study of secondary education in Papua New Guinea. This study will inform a planned program design, and monitoring frameworks aimed at improving education access, quality, and equity; instruction and learning; teacher in-service professional development; and school infrastructure, safety, and resilience and in PNG’s secondary schools. The study, which will focus on a select group of 10-25 schools nationwide, will consider for each element aspects related to gender, equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI).

Objectives

• Assess the current state of secondary schools in PNGE, including specific areas of improvement for the select schools in the study.
• Establish illustrative benchmarks for key performance areas (governance, access, retention, learning outcomes, teacher capacity, infrastructure, safety, resilience, and GEDSI).
• Identify gaps and systemic challenges across provinces and school types (urban/rural, day/boarding).
• Provide evidence-based recommendations to guide critical elements for a 4-year secondary education program for piloting critical improvements to the school environment, education quality, and teacher professional development.

Scope of Work

The consultant/team will:

• Cover a representative sample of provinces (e.g., National Capital District and select provinces).
• Assess quantitative indicators (enrolment, pass rates, student-teacher ratios, teacher quality, school leadership, school infrastructure, student engagement, among others).
• Explore qualitative dimensions (stakeholder perceptions, school-community linkages, school safety).
• Map existing data systems (EMIS, provincial records) and identify data quality issues.
• Review policy environment (curriculum rollout, funding mechanisms, gender equity and inclusion policies/practices).

Key Research Questions

• What is the current enrolment, retention, and transition profile across secondary grades?
• How do learning outcomes (literacy, numeracy, life skills) vary by location and socio-economic status?
• What are the principal barriers to access and completion (costs, language of instruction, gender norms)?
• How effective are existing teacher training, support, and supervision mechanisms?
• What infrastructure, resourcing, and governance factors most affect school performance?

Methodology (to be determined in consultation with education stakeholders)

• Desk review: National Education Plan, EMIS data, recent sector reports.
• Quantitative surveys: Structured questionnaires for headteachers, teachers, students, parents.
• Qualitative inquiries: Focus group discussions, key informant interviews (Provincial Education Advisors, school boards).
• Data analysis: Descriptive statistics, disaggregated by gender, region, school type; thematic analysis of qualitative data.
• Validation workshops: Feedback sessions with MoE and provincial counterparts.

Deliverables & Timeline

Illustrative Expertise and Team Composition

• Lead researcher: 10+ years in education research, PNG experience preferred.
• Quantitative analyst: Skilled in survey design, EMIS, statistical software (SPSS/Stata/R).
• Qualitative specialist: Expertise in FGDs, KIIs, thematic coding.
• Field coordinators: Familiarity with provincial contexts, local languages.
• Logistics/support staff: To manage fieldwork and data entry.

The selected implementer will be able to demonstrate PNG secondary education research experience, team qualifications and availability, value for money and cost realism, and ability to adhere to proposed timeline.

EOI Instructions:

Interested parties should provide a short document addressing the issues and considerations discussed herein. Responses are limited to 5 pages of technical considerations addressing the research questions and additional information can be incorporated in a separate attachment that includes the following information:

1. Offeror name, address, email address, Web site address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization.
2. Tailored capability statements addressing the offeror’s capability and past performance in similar areas.

Do not submit any proposals at this time, only information requested in this EOI will be reviewed. Responses will be treated as confidential. Responses to the EOI will be used to help create a short list of partners.

This EOI is being conducted in a “full and open” manner.  The EOI will determine the offeror with the required capacity for the consultancy service.  In the EOI response, offerors should submit relevant documentation to support their capacity in the required field. Expression of interest will be reviewed and selected based on offeror’s provision of past performance in the required field.

Expression of Interest should be sent to the following email address bids@creativedc.com by  18 July 2025.

This Expression of Interest is not a Request for Quotation or a request for proposal, and in no way constitutes a commitment by Creative to execute any agreement or to pay any costs incurred by applicants that respond to this request.