Research Consultant: Multi-Lingual Education in Nigeria

About the project

Effective language policies during early childhood and primary school education should be informed by a careful review of the research data and development project reports in Nigeria. Research that looks at the various types of code switching / transition methods used and the impact of bilingual learning in a multi-lingual environment would provide much needed evidence to initiate discussions on language policy in Nigeria. 

about the role

The research consultant is expected to design the research methodology to meet the defined objectives. S/he will work with the British Council Nigeria team and members of the Nigeria Language Community of Practice to determine the research methods and other test parameters. The researcher is expected to conduct reviews and analyse data during the course of the project. The researcher will be expected to conduct in-depth interviews and moderate focus group discussions.  

The consultant is expected to undertake a desk review that critically evaluates academic research and findings of donor-funded projects that:

• identifies current research, in the area of implementation of language in education policy, mother-tongue based multi-lingual education and management of transition and code-switching in classrooms
• provides thorough systematic meta-analysis of interventions in mother-tongue based instruction in Nigeria, and identifies underlying factors responsible for success/failure of interventions
• identifies existing gaps in research and recommendations for future studies.

Outputs

• Research outline and instrument designed
• Report on the impact of medium of instruction on learning outcomes in Nigerian schools with the emphasis on mother-tongue based instruction vs English medium instruction, code switching and the impact of the choice of medium of instruction within a multilingual environment. Report to include data collected from focus group discussions / key informant interviews
• Abstract for a conference presentation by the British Council and/or a technical paper which will be shared with education policy makers
• Final research report submitted and presented to a wider education development partner team.

Qualifications and experience required

Essential

• Master’s degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification
• Experience conducting systematic literature reviews
• At least 3 years' professional experience in education research project design and experience working in the area of language in education
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and report writing skills in English
• Excellent data collection and interpretation skills as well as the ability to produce clear reports.

Desirable

• Experience of working with the British Council
• Experience working in Nigeria and knowledge of the Nigerian Education language policy. 

If you are interested, please send the following tailored to the above requirements to Boniface.Ushie@ng.britishcouncil.org with the title: ‘Research Consultant: Multi-Lingual Education in Nigeria’.

• detailed resume demonstrating the skills, knowledge and expertise which are relevant to this call (maximum of four pages Arial 11 font single-spaced)
• summary of at least two previous publications in the area of mother tongue based multi-lingual instruction (maximum of two pages Arial 11 font single-spaced)
• proposed research design and methodology (maximum of one page Arial 11 font single-spaced).

Unfortunately we can only respond to successful candidates and only within five days of the application deadline.