A Peace Corps Response Volunteer is needed to work as a National Community-Based Literacy Specialist with the Ministry of Education (MoE), National Center for Educational Resources Development (NCERD) in Guyana. Prior to 2013, Regional Literacy Coordinators were part of the Guyana’s community-based levelled reading program, and these community-based Regional Literacy Coordinators were in every region with responsibility for supporting and/or initiating literacy programs for school drop-outs, and to enhance adult literacy. After an evaluation was conducted on the program, and it was found that attrition for participants accelerated significantly when the direction of the program focused solely on literacy development, rather than being accompanied by a tangible skill/trade, and the decision was taken to halt the initiative, then to review and evaluate it more stringently. This review and evaluation has yet to occur, and the literacy unit currently supports literacy-based initiatives conducted by private sector and civil society organizations. One of the key activities for lifelong learning in the Education Strategic Plan 2019-2023 is to develop community-based literacy programs. The volunteer will work with the Literacy Unit of NCERD, with possible support from the 10 administrative regions, to conduct a needs assessment and desk review of existing community-based literacy program documents in preparation to develop a national community-based levelled reading program that includes a training component for community-based literacy coaches.

A Peace Corps Response Volunteer with a master’s degree or equivalent in Education, experience designing and implementing literacy programs for adults, and at least 3 years’ experience as the lead teacher in a classroom teaching literacy is needed to serve as a National Community-Based Literacy Specialist. The Volunteer will assist the Literacy Unit of NCERD with a needs assessment for a community-based literacy program and design of a new/revised program with all attending components, monitoring elements and reports. Additionally, the volunteer will work on a national community-based levelled reading program plan that includes a training component for community-based literacy coaches. The overall goal of this project is to create an emergent reading program following a trajectory that results in advanced-level proficiency.

Please note that departure dates and other details of this project could change because of the uncertainties as Peace Corps and local partners resume volunteer operations. Candidates selected for this position will be arriving in Guyana together as a group, so while the departure dates for the whole group could change, dates cannot be changed for individual candidates.

Ministry of Education (MoE), National Center for Educational Resources Development (NCERD)

• High tolerance for ambiguity and high level of flexibility – some details of this project could change because of the uncertainties as Peace Corps and local partners resume volunteer operations
• Master’s degree or equivalent in Education
• At least 3 years’ experience as the lead teacher in a classroom teaching literacy
• At least 2 years’ experience training and supervising adult learners
• Experience designing and implementing literacy programs for adults