You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Liberia: Junior High Science Teacher

Become part of a vibrant network

Peace Corps offer a variety of benefits such as Financial benefits, Student loan benefits, Graduate school benefits and many more, please see this link for more information. 


Before You Apply
You can only have one active Peace Corps Volunteer application, so choose a position that best fits your skills and interest. You have the opportunity to tell us if you’d like to be considered for other openings and more about the ones that interest you most! See application process




Project Description

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 has access to and obtain a quality education. Peace Corps/Liberia’s Secondary Education project places Volunteers as math and science teachers in schools teaching 7th through 9th grade. While most of the work will depend on the needs of the school and the Volunteer’s skillset; the main focus is to build student’s comprehension and critical thinking skills through basic science concepts, including;
• Plant and animal science
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Earth science concepts

Recently, the Liberian government has adopted a national exam called West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which has a science lab component. Volunteers may also train students and teachers in science labs.

A majority of the 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 typically have between 50-90 students in each class with very limited teaching resources. Ninety-five percent (95%) of Liberian students are considered ‘over-age’ for their respective grade level. Students in junior high and high school will range in age from 13 to mid-20’s. The Liberian school system often passes students to the next grade level even when students have not passed classes or mastered academic concepts for their current grade level. Volunteers might have to adapt to a system where students’ grades are good indicators of a student’s progress (or lack thereof), but may not be a determining factor in a student’s passing on to the next grade level. 

In addition to teaching junior high school science, the following are a few examples of other projects Volunteers also do with their communities:
• Teacher training
• Science lab trainings for students and teachers
• School community improvement activities by working with their principal, teachers, students, and Parent Teacher Associations
• Local library awareness raising activities or creation
• Gender equality activities (i.e. girls’ or boys’ club or camp, training on gender-based violence in the classroom)
• Youth development projects (i.e. after-school programs, boys and girls clubs, sports activities, and/or other math/science-based experiential learning opportunities)
• Malaria training on prevention activities with students, teachers, and/or community members
• Hand washing and safe hygiene practices and awareness raising activities in schools
• Food security projects (i.e. school and community gardening)
• Literacy activities in school, after-school, and with neighbors

Peace Corps/Liberia promotes gender awareness and girls’ education and empowerment. Volunteers will receive training on gender challenges in country and will have the opportunity to implement gender-related activities that are contextually appropriate. During service, Volunteers will look for ways to work with community members to promote gender-equitable norms and increase girls’ sense of agency. As part of their work, Volunteers will also report on these efforts and their impact.

In addition, all Volunteers are expected to monitor and report on their work twice a year during their service for the following reasons: to allow Volunteers to share their activities and contributions with their community; to measure progress towards meeting Peace Corps/Liberia’s project goals; and at the end of their service, for Volunteers to assess their overall contribution to Liberia.




Required Skills

Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education with a concentration in any science; or
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline with secondary certification in science; or
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in general science, biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering; or
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any physical science, biological science, or equivalent; or
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline with a minor or equivalent (15 semester/22 quarter hours) in biology, chemistry, or physics.




Desired Skills

Additionally, Liberia strongly prefers its Volunteers have one or more of the following qualifications:
• Sound knowledge of basic scientific concepts in biology, chemistry, and/or physics
• Ability to work in, and teach to, a multi-level classroom
• Experience working with youth in unstructured or semi-structured environments or in community and organizational development
• Prior teaching experience including lesson planning, basic classroom management, student evaluation, and public speaking
• Demonstrated ability in planning, organizing, counseling on leadership within the past 5 years
• Preferred work experience in low or under-resourced classrooms or communities




Required Language Skills

There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
There are 15 local languages spoken in Liberia with Liberian English spoken throughout the country. Standard English is the official language of instruction in schools, however, many teachers teach in Liberian English. You will be trained in Liberian English and greetings in one of the fifteen local languages depending on where in the country you are placed.




Living Conditions

Housing: Volunteers are expected to accept a variety of housing possibilities during their two years of service. Volunteer housing consists of both single and double dwelling homes, depending on the school's site and housing availability. Most homes consist of three to four rooms, including a bedroom, a common area, kitchen and an indoor bathroom that requires bucket flushing. Volunteers should not expect to have electricity or running water in their home, and they will get their water from a nearby hand pump or well. 

Communication: Many sites have limited cell phone coverage in or near a Volunteer’s assigned community. However, there are a few sites without any cell phone coverage. If Volunteers have cell phone coverage in their assigned community, they will also have the possibility of connecting to the Internet through a smart phone or if they purchase a portable internet USB. Volunteers without cell coverage tend to have very limited internet access. Cell coverage and Internet accessibility continue to increase.

Transportation: During Peace Corps service, Volunteers travel via public transportation, often in the form of tightly packed taxis. Many roads and vehicles are in extremely poor condition, especially during the rainy season; however, road projects are in the works and some of the roads throughout Liberia are being paved. Volunteers will be trained in transportation safety, and transportation will always be a very large challenge during their service. While traveling between locations, Volunteers should be prepared for old and crowded vehicles and many long hours on the road. In addition, some Volunteers have to travel by motorbike to the nearest taxi. All Volunteers will be trained in motorbike safety.

Health: The health and safety and security of Volunteers are Peace Corps' top priority. Blood-borne diseases are endemic in Liberia. Once in Liberia, Volunteers will be trained on maintaining their health and how to seek treatment if needed. 

Laptops: Volunteers are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop which not only increases options for internet access, but also enables Volunteers to complete required assignments off-line and upload them at a later date. While Volunteers may also complete the assignments through local internet cafes or other access points, having a laptop will facilitate successful participation in training. Please note that tablets and smart phones have not been found to be an effective alternative.

Social Climate: While Liberia is generally tolerant, values and mores concerning sexual orientation and gender identity may be different from those in the U.S. Volunteers will need to be mindful of cultural norms, and use their judgment to determine the best way to approach sexual orientation and gender identity in their communities and host countries. Staff and currently serving Volunteers will address this topic during pre-service training, and identify support mechanisms for incoming trainees.
Learn more about the Volunteer experience in Liberia: Get detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and safety — including crime statistics [PDF] — in order to make a well-informed decision about serving.




Couples Information

Liberia is an excellent place for couples and are warmly welcomed. Your partner must apply and qualify for one of the following positions in Liberia:

- Primary Literacy Teacher
- Primary Literacy Teacher Specialist
- Junior High Math Teacher

All couples will live together for the majority of Pre-Service Training. However, there will be between eight to ten days of the training where couples will be in dorms with the rest of their training cohort. Once training has been completed, couples will live together for the duration of their service. Depending on site availability, couples might serve at the same school or different schools within the same community.




Medical Considerations in Liberia

  • Liberia may not be able to support Volunteers with the following medical conditions: asthma, including mild or childhood; cardiology; dermatology; gastroenterology; some types of gynecologic support; insulin-dependent diabetes; mammography; requiring a psychiatrist for psychotropic medications support; ophthalmology; seizure disorder; urology; ongoing counseling.
  • The following medication(s) are not permitted for legal or cultural reasons: Adderall, Vyvanse. 
  • Volunteers who should avoid the following food(s) may not be able to serve: none identified. 
  • After arrival in Liberia, Peace Corps provides and applicants are required to have an annual flu shot, to take daily or weekly medication to prevent malaria, and to receive mandatory immunizations.

Before you apply, please review Medical Information for Applicants to learn about the clearance process and other health conditions that are difficult to accommodate in Peace Corps service.