Ready to Come Back: Teacher Preparedness Training Package

"Teachers are at the forefront of safe school operation, well-being and learning this year. It is therefore crucial that teachers remain informed, engaged and supported." - UNICEF

Global school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic affected more than 1.5 billion children of primary and secondary school age. In reopening schools as restrictions lift, countries will apply different approaches: full opening with health and hygiene measures in place, a hybrid approach with a combination of face-to-face and remote learning, or fully online education. However the 2020/2021 school year may look, teachers and other education staff are at the forefront of addressing children's needs for continued learning, health and safety, and mental health and well-being.

Developed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Aflatoun International, the Ready to Come Back: Teacher Preparedness Training Package (TPTP) aims to support teachers by providing practical information and tools to prepare for the new school year. The information presented here was developed with educators across the MENA region in mind, but it can be adapted to any context.

The TPTP is designed to be a flexible, self-paced training tool that can be modified and updated as the situation changes. Although each of the 3 modules can be used independently, the topics covered are interconnected and complementary:

1. The first module, "Safe School Operations", explores COVID-19-related precautions and safety measures in the context of schools.
2. "Well-being and Protection" explores the relationship between well-being, teaching, and learning. It is designed to help teachers recognise and address stress in themselves and their students, providing simple and practical tools to improve well-being through self-care and caring for students.
3. "Back to Learning" provides practical tips and tools for identifying and addressing missed and regressed learning in students, especially among the most vulnerable children, including those at risk of dropout.

Across the modules, 2 teacher personas, "Sara" and "Faris", accompany the reader throughout the content and provide tips and assistance - speaking directly to teachers - to make the key points and examples come alive. The package also functions as a workbook, with moments for reflection and templates for the teacher to fill out and use. It includes quizzes, a self-evaluation, and a planning tool to help teachers reflect on what they learned and what they still need to learn.

The modules are based on the Framework for Reopening Schools developed by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UNICEF, the World Bank, the World Food Programme, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).