What do we do?
- We support countries with policy, research, psychometrics, and school leadership.
- We collaborate with countries on policy and research initiatives.
- We use a variety of modality of engagement with countries, capacity building, capacity development, capacity supplementation and capacity substitution.
- We work with other CROP agencies and international development partners to advance psychometrics, policy, research, and school leadership work in the region.
- We also foster communities of practice psychometrics, policy, research and school leadership through the Pacific Education Research Network (PERN) of research officers in member countries. .
Our focus areas
Psychometrics
develop, design, and implement psychometric analysis frameworks using Classical and Modern Test approaches. Conduct calibration of educational assessment instruments, and perform statistical analyses to assess item performance, and test reliability to improve measurement precision. Conduct performance standards-setting benchmarking and cut scores for assessments. Provide empirical data analysis guidelines and facilitate standard-setting meetings with subject experts in improving national and regional large-scale assessment tools.
Educational research data analysis
conduct data analysis for research projects using national and regional large-scale assessments and early-grade assessments. Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis, develop data analysis frameworks, and report and interpret findings and results using advanced statistical techniques. Work with interdisciplinary teams, international agencies, national and regional research institutions, and research partners in a joint-data analysis partnership.
Policy Assessment
conduct comprehensive diagnoses of education systems by evaluating educational policies. This includes using or adapting existing tools, such as the World Bank’s SABER tools, or developing new policy assessment tools. Additionally, conduct institutional capacity analyses to determine the readiness of education systems to implement policies effectively.
Questionnaire development
develop contextual questionnaires to gather data on factors influencing student learning in the Pacific at regional and national levels. This involves identifying and analysing the latest trends and determinants that impact student learning outcomes and utilising this data to inform targeted interventions and policy recommendations.
Data Analysis and Reporting
conduct in-depth analysis of data collected from contextual questionnaires to identify and understand the factors influencing student learning. This includes comprehensive statistical analysis and interpretation of data trends to derive meaningful insights. Prepare reports and create engaging presentations that effectively communicate findings to various stakeholders, including educators, policymakers, and the community. Additionally, provide recommendations based on the analysis to support targeted interventions and continuous improvement in educational practices.
Lead Research
Lead, support, and advice the development, design, and implementation of research studies by each Team within EQAP, facilitating the development of research frameworks and proper guidelines and procedures for conducting educational research at the regional and country levels. Coordinate the implementation of collaborative research studies involving EQAP and member countries, EQAP and other SPC divisions, and EQAP with international research agencies. Coordinate and implement PacREF research
Research Training
Provide technical and advisory support in national research initiatives. Coordinate educational research studies in the countries in collaboration with EQAP Teams. Provide advice and follow-ups on interventions based on research findings. Facilitate and coordinate research forums among member countries to share research findings and best practices. Assist countries in identifying, coordinating, and administering training and staff development needs on research. Provide key research training for educational personnel and stakeholders in the member countries.
Leadership Capabilities
facilitate the revision of the regional leadership standards into a capability-based framework. Support the revision of national leadership standards in alignment with the regional capabilities to meet current and future needs of member countries. Develop frameworks for mapping and alignment of national to regional capabilities. Support the development of a reliable assessment framework for whole school standards.
SMILE
Support the review and/or design of an appraisal system that supports effective school management processes. Develop a country web-based application, SMILE (Strategy for Monitoring and Improving School Leaders Effectiveness) to improve the monitoring of school principals' performance in managing and leading their schools. leadership management. Develop assessment criteria that are valid and reliable to accurately evaluate performance.
Our team
Michael Noa – Team Leader
Adrian Alamu – Education Specialist – Psychometrics
Seema Prasad – Education Specialist – Policy
Salote Valentine – Education Research Assistant
Krishneel Reddy – Education Specialist – Research
Partnerships
National ministries of education across 15 Pacific Island countries and states
