About this role
English Teacher
Project Description: Schools across Namibia are excited to welcome aspiring and experienced educators to support the development of elementary, middle, or high school students. Education is a national priority for the Government of Namibia, and English fluency plays an important role in that effort. As the country’s multilingual education system evolves, many classrooms are shifting from rote memorization to more engaging hands‑on learning designed to develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills among students. Yet many elementary students—and their teachers—continue to struggle with basic English reading and fluency, contributing to critically low secondary school pass rates; last year, only 36% of students passed the national exams. Additional mentoring, consistent reading support, and opportunities to practice spoken English can provide the boost learners need. With youth unemployment at 38% and a growing private‑sector economy, strengthening foundational education is essential to helping young Namibians access future opportunities. As an English Teacher, you’ll work side-by-side with local teachers, school leaders, and community members to support student learning. You’ll help create more participation and critical thinking in the classroom, skills that help students become more independent and successful. Along the way, you’ll build strong relationships, gain real teaching experience, and grow personally and professionally in ways that stay with you long after service.
Required Skills: Bachelor's degree in any discipline.
Living Conditions: Volunteers may be placed in towns with major supermarkets and everyday conveniences, or in more remote communities where traveling for essentials becomes part of the monthly routine. Housing is generally modern, with some sites featuring more traditional homes. All locations have access to running water, electricity, and internet within the community. Volunteers may live independently, with a host family, or share housing with another teacher. For most, the daily commute to school is a short walk of about five minutes.
Job Highlights: Gain hands-on professional experience using student-centered methodologies in a real classroom setting. Strengthen your understanding of education challenges in Southern Africa while designing and implementing meaningful solutions. Immerse yourself in a new culture to build the resilience and intercultural communications skills needed for successful global careers.
Activities: Plan and teach interactive, student-centered English lessons that support various learning styles. Develop creative teaching materials that complement and enrich the national curriculum. Support remedial tutoring to ensure each student receives the support needed to succeed. Assess student progress by grading assignments and exams. Engage with parent-teacher groups and community members to strengthen school-community partnerships. Plan and facilitate clubs, sports, and activities that support student development beyond the classroom. You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as providing digital literacy classes to adults or expanding a school library.
Training: As an English Teacher, you will be trained on student-centered methodologies, Namibia’s national curriculum, and practical teaching skills. Peace Corps/Namibia will teach you either Oshikwanyama, Oshindonga, Otjiherero, Rukwangali, Silozi, Afrikaans, or Khoekhoegowab to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. You may also receive language resources and learn other languages as necessary or desired.
After 10 weeks of training, you will move to a rural or urban community where you will support students between grades 4 and 10. You will work with the community to assess the learning needs and develop long-term solutions based on community-driven approaches.