About The Job

Apply by :

October 1, 2025

Know By

December 1, 2025

Depart On

June 11, 2026

Duration

2 years, plus 3 months training

ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Project description

Situated in West Africa with a rich and complex history, Liberia was founded in the early 1800s by formerly enslaved African Americans. Liberia holds the unique distinction of being Africa’s first and oldest modern republic. The country has faced significant challenges, including two civil wars in the late 20th century and the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

This is an exciting and challenging time in the history of Liberia. The Peace Corps Education Project supports Liberia’s education sector during a time of reconstruction as the country aims to meet the nation’s educational challenges and help ensure every Liberian child is able to obtain a quality education. In addition to co-teaching literacy, Volunteers may engage with their schools in a variety of additional ways, including small group teacher trainings, digital literacy, school improvement activities, afterschool programs, school gardens or school environmental clubs.

Peace Corps Liberia’s Education Project places Primary Literacy Co-Teachers in primary schools teaching 1st to 3rd grade basic phonics, reading comprehension and building critical thinking skills. In the first year, Primary Literacy Co-Teachers are expected to teach students through direct classroom instruction by co-teaching with another Liberian teacher. This is an opportunity for the Volunteer to increase their confidence, build relationships with other teachers and increase credibility. In the second year, the Volunteer is expected to be more involved with teacher training, mentoring, coaching and building critical thinking skills for teachers. This will involve conducting small group teacher trainings, observing teachers teach and giving feedback.

Most schools are located in rural communities, small towns or large villages; however, some are located in county capitals that have populations above 30,000. Peace Corps Volunteers will be responsible for teaching different grade levels in classrooms that range between 30 to 90 students in each class with limited teaching resources. Ninety-five percent of Liberian students are considered ‘over-age’ for their respective grade level. Students in primary school will range in age from 5 to 15.

In addition to co-teaching, the following are examples of other literacy activities Volunteers do with their schools and communities:

• Developing and sustaining a teacher community of practice
• Teacher training
• School community improvement activities by working with their principal, teachers, students, and Parent Teacher Associations
• Literacy activities in school, after school, and with neighbors
  
  

In addition to primary sector work, many Volunteers find constructive outlets through engaging in supplementary projects. While Volunteers are free to explore their personal interests, such as music, art, and sports through community engagement, Peace Corps Liberia works to provide basic guidance to Volunteers interested in school-based agricultural and nutrition education, girls’ empowerment, malaria prevention campaigns, and environmental clubs.

While Volunteers will spend much of their time on the activities described above, they will also be developing relationships with their community. They will be picking mangos with neighbors, learning to build a cook fire to make cassava gravy, playing sports with their community members and getting clothes made of the traditional “lappa”.

Required Skills

Competitive candidates will have a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline and a strong desire to teach English.