TEACHERS PLACEMENTS
Teachers are urgently needed to teach in all the primary schools we support in Uganda. Irish primary school teachers can really make an impact with their work, especially in areas such as group work and positive reinforcement, which are not practices used in Uganda.
Teachers will be working in local primary schools. There are four schools presently available in Nansana. These schools include: -
- Little Diamonds Primary School (three places available)
- Jet Valley Primary School (four places available)
- St. Francis Primary School (four places available)
- Nansana Centre Primary School (two places available)
Description of the school system
The academic year runs from February until the end of November. They have December to January off- equivalent to our summer break.
The majority of schools in Uganda are private (including all the schools currently on the A-Z programme). There are around 75 private schools in Nansana. The children pay fees to cover their tuition and at least one meal a day in school. They must also buy uniforms, sports gear and stationary. These costs are met by the children’s families or by the A-Z sponsorship programme.
Teaching and learning does differ somewhat to Ireland mainly due to practical reasons including: -
- Most learning is rote learning due to a shortage of text books
- P.E. is done very early in the morning to avoid the midday heat
- Children’s work is seldom displayed on the walls due to; shortage of resources, not traditionally recognised as a method of teaching and learning but also as the classrooms are very exposed to the elements (dust and wind)
- Corporal punishment has been outlawed in Uganda for three years however it is still being weaned out so you may witness some incidents.
Description of syllabus and curriculum
The curriculum itself reads similarly to the Irish curriculum however in teaching the main focus is on the three R’s. Subjects like art, drama and music, although on the curriculum, are sidelined due to compulsory state exams at the end of each year. It is necessary to pass these in order to progress to the next year. As a result of this there is a panic to study and work as much as possible. Part of your contribution will be to integrate these areas into the exam based subjects (i.e. using drama and art to aid oral language development).
Roles and responsibilities of an Irish volunteer teacher in Uganda
The academic standard of the children in Uganda is very high. The role of the Irish teacher can be largely based on contributing and facilitating teaching and learning through methods seen on the Revised Irish curriculum – for example group work, positive reinforcement etc. These methods do not seem to appear in the classroom in Uganda. The teachers are very forward thinking and open to practical suggestion.
Things to remember when you are planning a scheme of work
There can be up to 85 in a class, an average class has 50 pupils. Schools have very limited resources.
You will be required to give a workshop to the Ugandan teachers for one hour a week on whatever you are teaching the children. Keep in mind this when you are planning- why are you teaching, what you are teaching, what methodologies are you using and why etc.
Basic timetable for the week
You will be working four half days a week, from 8am –2pm. One day a week will be spent working on other projects, the library, the agricultural programme, and The HIV community programme.
There will be a weekly evaluation meeting for all teachers once a week for no longer then an hour.
Pre- trip orientation
A lot of preparation is done before you leave Ireland. This is necessary to ensure that you are prepared mentally four the trip and that you know what to do and what is expected of you the minute you arrive in Uganda. Although it always takes some time for every volunteer to adjust, A-Z Children’s Charity has found that volunteers who are well prepared in advance adapt easier in Uganda. For that reason A-Z Children’s Charity places great importance in preparing every teacher for their placement.
The orientation schedule is as follows:-
December- January- General orientation with all the volunteers and past volunteers and learn about what to expect and how to prepare for Uganda.
February- Meet with other volunteer teachers and find out about the school you will be volunteering in. You will also get a talk on the Ugandan school system, the syllabus. You will be introduced to the various subjects that can be taught. An outline of information you should put together to ask the school you will be working in would be presented to you.
End of February- E-mail school, introducing yourself, what you would be interested in teaching and any other questions you may have. This may take a few e-mails before you understand fully what will happen in school.
March- Meeting with volunteer teacher coordinator to discuss probable for week work plan.
May- Finalise work plan and any outstanding issues you may have. A discussion of what resources to bring for your school will also take place.
Orientation schedule in Uganda
Your first two days upon arrival in Uganda are general orientation days (Please see orientation pack). The first day spent in school is an observation day. You will get to meet all the staff, get a tour of the school and meet your link teacher. You will also to discuss yours and their expectations of how you will spend your time in their school. Your first day or two in school will be spent observing. This is important as Ugandan classes are generally larger than in Ireland and they have less resources. It is important to see the school routine and how the pupils and teachers interact.
After that your first day of actual teaching can be in pairs (with another volunteer) if you wish. Finding your feet happens quicker than you think!
Support systems available during your volunteer placement
- Weekly evaluation meetings take place with all the volunteer teachers to assess and record your progress
- An A-Z Children’s Charity, Ireland volunteer teacher coordinator will visit you in the school and be available to you at any time should any issues arise.
- Daily or every second day evaluation meetings are organised with an assigned teacher in your school. These meetings are designed to look at areas both you and the school are happy with and areas that may need attention
- You will be asked to keep a diary of your teaching experience. This is designed to help you on future projects and to help future volunteers
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE WILL AWARD YOU 5 EPV COURSE DAYS FOR DOING THIS VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT
