Primary teachers

Nepal is still one of the poorest countries in the world with high infant mortality and illiteracy rates compared to its other South Asian neighbours. Disabled children, minority groups and girls especially are often excluded from public services and face discrimination from birth.

VSO’s aim is to increase access to quality education for these marginalised groups by placing experienced teachers and education managers in schools and authorities to support the government’s plan of ‘Education for All’ (EFA). As a volunteer with the District Education Office you’ll improve the quality of classroom teaching and learning, particularly for girls and children with disabilities.

What does the role involve?

• Training teachers in the use of active teaching methods to create a safe and enjoyable school environment for children
• Working with local colleagues to improve educational management at administrative and school level
• Building relationships and collaborating with national education stakeholders to help achieve EFA
• Assisting in the development of school observation work to improve school supervision

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll need to be a qualified a qualified teacher with at least 3-5 years’ primary teaching experience in active teaching and learning methods. In addition to this you’ll preferably have some school management experience. Training and organisational skills would also be an asset and excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential.

You’ll need to be flexible to effectively build relationships with colleagues and stakeholders and deal with last minutes changes in planning. An interest in the local culture and willingness to learn Nepalese to a reasonable standard will enable you to understand how things get done and will help you to be successful in this particular role. As the placement is quite isolated, you’ll need to be adaptable and able to integrate into a different culture. Volunteers will also need a relatively good level of fitness, as the main mode of transport is bicyle.

And the rest...

Nepal is situated between China in the north and India in the south, east and west; it’s the birthplace of Buddha and the home of the tallest peak in the world (Mount Everest). You’ll be based in Dhangadhi, a town in western Nepal, close to the Indian border.

The placement is 26 months, which is slightly longer than our standard placements.  In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

The quality of primary school education has vastly improved in Tanzania. The launch of the 2001 Primary Education plan (2002-2006) has resulted in school enrolment jumping from 59 per cent in 1990 to 89 per cent in 2003. However, a lack of well-trained teachers means that the quality of education remains poor. Lack of professional support, minimal resources and poor salaries have affected morale and contribute towards low teacher retention rates. Trained primary school teachers are in short supply. As an English adviser working with the Muleba District Council, you’ll devise and implement a strategy to improve the professional development of local colleagues.

What does the role involve?

• Developing and delivering training programmes for primary school teachers to improve their English teaching skills
• Promoting the effective and efficient use of teaching resources in schools
• Supporting and strengthening the professional development opportunities available to primary school teachers in the district
• Collaborating with education stakeholders to ensure that quality education is given priority in planning

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll be a qualified teacher with at least three years’ classroom experience specialised in English. Knowledge of curriculum development and child centred teaching methodologies is essential and a TEFL qualification would be an advantage. Patience and flexibility will help you build strong working relationships with colleagues. You’ll need to be able to adapt your knowledge and skills to a new context, be approachable and have a good sense of humour.

And the rest...

Tanzania’s landscape is vast and richly varied, consisting of extensive plains and plateaus, gorgeous inland lakes, volcanoes (both active and dormant), palm fringed white sandy beaches and of course the world’s highest freestanding mountain - Kilimanjaro. You’ll be based in Muleba, on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria in the north east of Tanzania. The climate is sunny and warm for the majority of the year. One of the most popular foods in the local diet is Matoke, which are large green bananas that you can eat roasted or steamed.

We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

Despite its abundant natural resources, Nigeria remains one of the poorest countries in the world and an estimated 48.5 million people live on less than $1 a day. It is recognised by government that education is a key factor in reducing poverty. As a primary teacher trainer, you’ll make a direct contribution to improving the quality and relevance of education that children in Nigeria receive. Based in Kwara teacher training college you’ll work with trainee and serving teachers to work towards a more practical and child-centred approach to training.

What does the role involve?

• Identifying the training needs of teachers through class observations, providing feedback and organising relevant training
• Working with staff at the college to develop teaching materials and assessments
• Working with a cluster of schools to improve community participation in school management
• Improving teaching practice for students in the college

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll have a degree level qualification as well as a teaching qualification such as a PGCE. You’ll need at least three years’ experience in classroom teaching and applying child centered, interactive teaching methodologies. Experience of managing a curriculum area or department and mentoring other teachers would be a great advantage. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential for this role as is a flexible and adaptable approach and a willingness to deal with the unexpected!

And the rest...

Nigeria is a vibrant and diverse country with a fantastic mix of cultures and languages. It was recently rated the happiest nation in the world, and our serving volunteers would certainly support this. The college is just outside the state capital of Ilorin, where there are plenty of amenities and the stunning Kanji Lake National Parks are not far away.

We’ll ask you to commit to 24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our support package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.

Within West Africa, Ghana is considered to be an ‘island of peace and stability’. Since 2000, the country has experienced a sustained period of economic stability and has made steady progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.

In addition to having one of the fastest poverty reduction rates in Africa, primary school enrolment has risen substantially, but there is still a great deal of work to be done. As a primary teacher trainer working in a cluster of schools in the Bongo district, you’ll develop and run an in-service teacher training programme for student teachers and promote child-centred learning methodologies.

What does the role involve?

• Developing and implementing a in-service teacher training programme
• Supporting the professional development of teachers through team teaching, lesson observation and feedback
• Working with trainee teachers to develop effective teaching resources and materials
• Encouraging the use of child-centred learning methodologies in the classroom

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll be a qualified teacher with at least 3-5 years’ experience. You’ll have strong student centred and active learning methodologies and experience in mentoring other teachers. With strong leadership and communication skills, you’ll be creative, flexible and able to work in close partnership with colleagues. As you’ll be working alongside other volunteers and Ghanaian colleagues, there will be plenty of professional and personal support.

And the rest...

Ghana is located on North Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, bordering the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Togo. It’s a land of plains and low plateaus, covered by rainforests in the west and magnificent Lake Volta in the east. You’ll be based in Tumu, the district capital of Sissala East District. The town has about 10,000 inhabitants and is located in the Guinea Savannah zone. There are three banks and a daily market where you can buy food and other essential items. You’ll live in a two-bedroom self contained accommodation, about a kilometre from the college .

We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.