Terms of Reference to development of the Inclusive FLN module in Bengali
CBM India Trust is a leading organization engaged in inclusive education and disability inclusion projects primarily in India. We are developing disability-inclusive Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) modules aligned with NEP 2020, NIPUN Bharat guidelines, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016).
The module will serve children with disabilities (including intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and sensory impairments) in Grades 1–3, with a focus on mother tongue-based multilingual education. This module will be prepared in Bengali to serve Bengali-speaking communities in Agartala, Tripura.
Objectives of the Assignment:
- Develop a comprehensive, disability-inclusive FLN module for Grades 1–3 in the Bengali language.
- Develop the module into Bengali with cultural adaptation.
- Ensure alignment with NIPUN Bharat goals and inclusive education frameworks.
Scope of Work:
Phase 1: Development of Inclusive FLN Module:
Content Development: Create FLN content for Grades 1–3 covering Foundational literacy (phonics, reading comprehension, vocabulary), Foundational numeracy (number sense, operations, patterns, measurement), Disability-specific adaptations for: cognitive disabilities, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, visual impairments, hearing impairments.
Pedagogical Framework: Design inclusive pedagogical approaches, includingUniversal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, Multisensory teaching methods, Mother tongue-based instruction, Experiential & play-based learning.
Learning Materials: Develop accompanying materials-Teacher guide with lesson plans (60+ sessions), Student workbooks (differentiated for disability types), Visual aids, flashcards, manipulatives, Assessment tools (formative & summative).
Digital Components: Create digital assets: Interactive digital activities, Audio content for visually impaired learners, Sign language video snippets (for hearing impaired).
Team must include: FLN curriculum specialist, Special educator (disability inclusion), Bengali language expert, Child development specialist, and Instructional designer.
Phase 2: Bengali Cultural Adaptation:
Cultural Adaptation: Native Bengali speaker reviews for Linguistic accuracy, Cultural appropriateness, Disability-inclusive terminology in Bengali.
Timeline: Three Months
Quality Standards & Compliance:
Alignment: Must align with NIPUN Bharat goals and learning outcomes for Grades 1–3
Inclusivity: Must follow Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles
Accessibility: Materials must be accessible for children with various disabilities
Child Safety: All content must adhere to child protection guidelines
IP Rights: CBM India Trust will own all intellectual property rights
Reporting and Communication:
- Weekly updates will be provided to the project management team
- A draft report will be shared within 3 days of completing the assignment.
- The final report will be submitted within 1 week after receiving feedback.
Confidentiality and Ethics:
- All content must prioritize the physical, emotional, and psychological safety of children with disabilities.
- Portray children with disabilities with dignity; avoid pity, inspiration porn, or stereotypical representations.
- Use standardized, disability-inclusive terminology in Bengali (no derogatory terms)
- Adapt content for cultural context without compromising educational value
- Implement rigorous quality checks for both content and translation.
- No discrimination based on disability, caste, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status
Costs and payments
The external evaluator will provide the cost and payments.
Applications
- Brief description of consultancy firm/consultant/team
- Detailed CVs of each suggested team member
- Understanding of this TOR and suggested methodology
- Availability of the team and suggested schedule
- Financial proposal
Only complete applications will be considered. The contractor may ask for references and/or examples of previous work and reports during the recruitment process. The contractor reserves the right to terminate the contract in case the suggested and agreed-upon team members are unavailable at the start of the evaluation and no adequate replacement can be provided.
Each team member, incl. interpreters, enumerators, etc., needs to fully comply with and sign CBM’s Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding Policy as well as commitment to data security and privacy.