Program Officer

  Benin

• Other Cities in Benin: 
Porto Novo

  Djibouti

• Other Cities in Djibouti: 
Djibouti

  Ethiopia

• Other Cities in Ethiopia: 
Addis Ababa

  Ghana

• Accra: 
Accra

  Guinea

• Conakry: 
Conakry

  Ivory Coast

• Other Cities in Ivory Coast: 
Yamoussoukro

  Malawi

• Other Cities in Malawi: 
Lilongwe

  Namibia

• Other Cities in Namibia: 
Windhoek

Length of Position: 9 month teaching assignment
Duration of Program: 1-2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 7-12 months
Dates: September through July

Description: Interested in teaching in Africa?

The International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH) invites applications from school teachers, college and university professors and school administrators who wish to spend one academic year helping to improve the quality of education in Benin, Cote D'Ivoire, Djibouti, Ghana, Guinea, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Namibia. Since 1992, more than 1,000 American teacher-trainers have been recruited and assigned to African teacher-training colleges, universities, governmental educational agencies, and curriculum institutes. IFESH is a non-profit development organization dedicated to helping to improve living conditions for the poor and the disadvantaged in the Third World, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa in the area of educational and social reform. Since 1988, the Foundation has impacted over 3.4 million individuals in sub-Saharan Africa through the support of health centers, vocational training, literacy, agriculture, and other types of projects.

Benin

Teachers must have proficiency in French (need not be fluent, but "strong conversational speaker.") Teachers with degrees in primary education or teacher training are given priority. Also important are Teaching of English as a Second Language (TESL), child-centered Curriculum Development, public health, gender equity, and computer science. Teachers with backgrounds in early childhood education as well as adult education are prioritized.

Cote d'Ivoire

Teachers with backgrounds in Curriculum Development, ESL, and Adult Literacy, are needed in Cote d'Ivoire. The major emphasis of the TFA program in Cote d'Ivoire is the establishment and maintenance of Library Resource Centers in teacher training colleges and universities in the middle and southern regions of the country. Library Resource Centers will serve as an information hub for faculty, student teachers, and primary and secondary school teachers and students in the local geographical region. TFAs will also participate in the establishment of an adult literacy project serving the cocoa farmers, and work in conjunction with local vocational training centers to provide ESL instruction.

Djibouti

The major emphasis in Djibouti is on the teaching of English as a Second Language (ESL) to teachers in both private and public school settings. The program will also have an HIV/AIDS awareness and HIV/AIDS behavior-change component. In Djibouti, the focus will also be on Curriculum Development and teacher training, in addition to, teaching students at the University of Djibouti's department of English.

Ethiopia

The focus of the program in Ethiopia is training of teachers of English, primary teacher-training, and improving HIV/AIDS Education. Teachers, teacher educators and professors, primarily at the tertiary level, are needed. Applicants with experience in teacher-training, teaching methodology, basic education, Curriculum Development, public health, textbook writing, English and TESL are needed. Also, in Ethiopia, the focus is on the development and teaching of information technology at all levels in teacher- training colleges and universities.

Ghana

Teacher Training Colleges: Lecturers are expected to have experience in Teaching of English as a Second Language (TESL), methodology, Curriculum Development, design and use of teaching/learning materials, and managing teaching materials resource laboratories. Computer literacy is recommended. Degrees in Education, Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, Computer Science, or Education Technology are desired. Higher degrees are desired but not required.

Universities: Teachers and professors are needed at the tertiary level in mathematics, sciences, statistics, computer science, architecture, engineering (in all aspects, practical experience is desirable), agriculture (emphasis on crop science, soil science and crop protection), and sociology. Candidates must have second degrees and at least three years teaching experience in area of specialization is desirable.

Secondary Schools: Teachers are needed in mathematics, general science, physics, and computer science.

Library Resource Centers: Teachers and lecturers are expected to have experience in Early Childhood, Literacy, Curriculum Development and, or Computer Literacy.      

Guinea

The focus of the program in Guinea is teaching of English as a Second Language (ESL). Teaching English as a Second Language teachers are needed (a Bachelor Degree, experience and "conversational" French are sufficient for TESL/TEFL teachers). Teachers are also needed in primary education, basic education and gender equity. Teachers with graduate degrees in counseling or public health are needed. Training of teachers in basic education will be a strong focus of the program. Applicants are also needed to work as experts in various Guinean Ministry of Education related agencies. Trainers will assist the Government of Guinea in conducting its Primary Education Sector Reform. Teachers, professors and administrators will work in development of audio-visual materials, development of educational radio programs, Curriculum Development, counseling at the secondary level (working with both students and counselors), and teacher training (primary and secondary level teachers). A Masters or Ph.D. degree, extensive experience and fluent French are highly recommended for advisory positions working with the Government of Guinea.

Malawi

The focus of the program in Malawi is teaching future teachers, either at colleges of education or at departments of education in universities. Teachers are also needed with Bachelor Degrees or higher in adult education and computer science for teaching of teachers within the teacher-Training Colleges and Institutes.

Teachers and professors are needed to train teachers of handicapped and emotionally disturbed children. Specific areas of need are for visual impairment specialists, hearing impairment specialists and learning difficulty specialists (speech therapists, language, and communication disorders, emotional disturbances, etc.), and educational psychologists (teacher training and parental advisor). Teachers are also needed to teach in colleges of education and departments of education in a wide variety of subjects, including education (teacher training, Curriculum Development, methodology and pedagogy, education theory and practice, etc.), English, sciences, mathematics, engineering, and computer science.

Namibia

The focus of the tertiary level program in Namibia is on training student teachers who will teach primary and junior secondary education. Teachers and professors are needed to assist in primary teacher professional development at Namibia's colleges of education. Teacher volunteers will train teachers for lower primary education, and in specific areas such as science and mathematics. In addition to primary teacher development, teachers are also needed to assist in teacher educator professional development at these colleges, as necessary. Advanced degrees with relevant experience are desirable, but not a requirement. Technical instructors (vocational training instructors) are also needed. These instructors will train out-of-school youth, as well as upgrading the skills of other instructors, at Community Skills Training Centers. Volunteer instructors will train instructors of courses such as basic computer skills, business and entrepreneurship, auto repair and maintenance, auto body work and spray painting, and brick-laying, as well as teaching courses themselves. The focus of this training is to provide youths with sufficient skills to enable them to find jobs or to start their own small businesses. Bachelor's Degrees in relevant fields and appropriate experience are desirable.

Qualifications:

To apply, an applicant must:

- Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.
- Be able to show evidence of good health.
- Possess at least 1-3 years experience as a teacher, professor or administrator.
- Have an academic/professional background in one or more of the following areas: primary education, teacher training, ESL/TOEFL, policy development, gender equity, maternal and child health, and curriculum development.
- Be proficient in the French language in order to work in Benin, Djibouti, Guinea, or Cote d'Ivoire.

Application Procedure

Include the following:

- Cover letter
- Application form (completely filled out)
- Resume, transcript
- Three letters of recommendation; and
- One- or two-page typed essay giving reasons for applying to:

Chair, Selection Committee
IFESH Teachers for Africa Program
(See address in the box on the left side of this page)

Application Deadline: February 28, 2010

Experience Required: yes

In order to apply, you must have at leat 1-3 years teaching experience. You also must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident thereof.

Age Range: 24-76 yrs. of age

This Program is open to American Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 50 teachers

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview Required
• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

The International Educators for Africa Program's Mission Statement: The mission of IFESH is to support African nations in their efforts to eradicate poverty, disease and inequity through self-help partnership program.

Year Founded: 1981