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Special Education Officer

Education icon Education

Job highlights

Guyana • South America
In partnership with: Ministry of Education

Learn about service in Guyana

Applications are now closed. View current openings.

Special benefits
  • Hands-on, valuable international work experience
  • Travel to and from country, housing and monthly living allowance, and full coverage of medical and dental needs during service
  • Monthly accrued Volunteer service award (readjustment allowance) totaling $5,000 before taxes, with option to access for ongoing financial obligations

Key dates

Apply by

November 15, 2025

Know by

January 15, 2026

Depart on

June 2, 2026

Duration

10 months

Description and qualifications

About the project

The Ministry of Education in Guyana has requested the support of Peace Corps Response Volunteers (PCRVs) to serve as Special Education Officers. Recognizing the diverse needs of learners across the country, the Ministry has identified special education as a priority area for development, particularly in strengthening the capacity of schools and educators to support students with disabilities and learning differences. Despite progress, the special education sector in Guyana continues to face challenges, including limited specialized resources, insufficient teacher training in inclusive practices, and gaps in early identification and intervention services.

The Peace Corps Response Volunteers (PCRVs) will be assigned to the Literacy Unit to work in collaboration on the initiatives with the Special Education Needs (SEN) Unit of the Ministry and local schools. Their roles include supporting teacher training, developing adaptive teaching materials, contributing to policy development efforts, and fostering community awareness. This partnership seeks to empower educators and communities to better support all learners.

Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Guyana project page.

Required skills

Qualified candidates will have the following criteria:

• BA in education/related field and at least 3 years of Special Ed. experience OR MA in Special Education/Related Field
• 2 or more years of teaching experience
• 2 or more years specialized experience in of one of the following areas: ASL, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or working with visually-impaired

Language: There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.

Required behavioral competencies

These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:

Motivation for and commitment to service

Adaptability and open-mindedness

Problem solving and resourcefulness

Behavioral maturity and professionalism

Photos from Guyana

Activities

How you and the community will make an impact together:


Living conditions

Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Guyana country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.

Meet a Volunteer in Guyana

Christopher J headshot

Christopher J.

Small Business Trainer


"It has been rewarding to see how much we can accomplish and how my skills can be applied in different contexts, all from the comfort of my home."

See full Volunteer profile
Training


Couples information

To learn more about serving as a couple in Guyana, visit the country page.


Next steps

Application process

From application to departure takes around nine months. Learn about the application process for Volunteer opportunities.

Medical/legal clearance

You will need to be cleared medically and legally in order to serve in Guyana. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.

Learn what it's like to serve in Guyana
Get detailed information on the Volunteer experience.