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Connect with the Peace Corps
If you're ready for something bigger, we have a place where you belong.
Apply to the Peace Corps
The application process begins by selecting a service model and finding an open position.
Let us help you find the right position.
If you are flexible in where you serve for the two-year Peace Corps Volunteer program, our experts can match you with a position and country based on your experience and preferences.
Serve where you’re needed mostElementary School Literacy and Math Teacher
Education
Job highlights
- Develop a deep understanding of student‑centered learning methods and apply effective, curriculum‑aligned strategies when planning lessons to meet national standards.
- Make a meaningful impact by strengthening literacy and math skills among young students.
- Learn basic Creolese while gaining a deeper understanding of Guyana’s rich culture.
Get answers live — every weekday at .
Apply by
November 15, 2026Know by
January 1, 2027Depart on
May 30, 2027Duration
2 years, plus 3 months trainingAbout the project
Want to make a difference in a young student’s life by sparking a love of learning and keeping students on a path for success?
Early literacy acquisition remains a significant challenge for many Guyanese students at the elementary levels. The Ministry of Education continues to see consistently low performances in mathematics and reading on standardized assessments. In response, the government of Guyana and the Ministry of Education have placed literacy and numeracy development at the forefront of national priorities, recognizing the large proportion of students who are not meeting grade-level expectations. This longstanding challenge is even more pronounced in rural and hinterland communities where teacher shortages and limited training opportunities persist. To address these issues, the government has implemented a range of education-focused initiatives, including curriculum reform, investments in digital learning, and teacher training programs.
As an Elementary School Literacy and Math Teacher, you will collaborate with classroom teachers to strengthen the students’ literacy and numeracy skills. Together, you will conduct diagnostic assessments and design tailor-made interventions to ensure every student receives the support needed to succeed. You will cultivate a positive learning environment and parental engagement to reinforce lesson beyond the classroom.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Guyana project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Associate degree in any field and at least two years of full-time, post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles).
OR
Bachelor's degree in any field.
OR
High school diploma or GED and four years of full-time post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles).
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
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Teach literacy and math in both formal and informal school settings.
Strengthen the teachers’ capacity in literacy and math teaching practices.
Facilitate community engagement activities that support student learning and educational outcomes.
Plan and facilitate projects and activities that promote awareness on cultures, languages, and perspectives.
Implement organizational development practices, tools, or resources to strengthen organizational capacity.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as facilitating community library clubs.
Volunteers serve in regional communities ranging from remote towns to semi‑urban villages. Volunteers will be accommodated in host families as a priority, with limited independent housing. Daily life may include modest living conditions with limited electricity, internet, and running water. While most sites are rural, Volunteers can visit larger markets monthly to restock supplies.
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.
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
As an Elementary Literacy and Math Teacher, you will be trained on phonics-based instruction, strategies for accelerating literacy and numeracy outcomes, and the curriculum. Peace Corps/Guyana will teach you basic Creolese to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community.
After 10 weeks of training, you will move to a remote or semi-urban community where you will collaborate with government and non-governmental and civic organizations. You will work with the community to assess the local needs and develop solutions based on improving literacy and numeracy attainment of students, boosting parental involvement activities, designing clubs and camp activities, and cultural exchange and awareness programs.
Only heterosexual couples can be accepted for this program. Each person must apply separately and must qualify for a position in either the same or a different sector than their partner. Couples will live together during training but may separate occasionally for field-based activities. Couples who are selected for the same sector will live together but work with different local partners which may be in the same community or in neighboring communities (not more than 30 minutes apart).
To learn more about serving as a couple in Guyana, visit the country page.
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.
