Special education teachers
Disabled children in many countries face discrimination. They’re excluded from family and community life. Inclusive education can change that, by transforming attitudes and supporting disabled people in exercising their rights.
Roles are generally longer term, ranging from one to two years, but we also have occasional short term assignments for up to six months.
You’ll be a qualified teacher with at least two years’ experience of working with children who have special education needs (five years’ for short-term roles). In some placements it would be helpful to know braille or sign language.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll be advising teachers in mainstream schools on how to identify, assess and include children with special needs. You’ll also train teachers in producing effective teaching materials. You could work in countries such as Guyana, Uganda or Tanzania.
Example roles
Please note these are just example placements to illustrate the kind of roles that may come up in your skill area.
SEN teacher trainer
Rwanda
Working at the Butare Centre for the deaf you’ll strengthen teacher capabilities by providing training on inclusion and innovate the content and approach of training programmes.
Rwanda’s education system saw two-thirds of its qualified teachers killed or exiled during the 1994 genocide. The country has made extraordinary progress since then, with economic growth recently having been the second highest in Africa. Education was prioritised in Rwanda as a means of rebuilding a nation devastated by years of civil conflict and repression. However, the quality of education, particularly for those with special educational needs, remains poor.
As an SEN teacher at the Butare Centre for the deaf you’ll strengthen teacher capabilities by providing training on inclusion and innovate the content and approach of training programmes.
What does the role involve?
- Conducting an assessment of special educational needs in the region
- Training staff in identifying, assessing and handling children with special educational needs and providing training on inclusion
- Training faculty staff in the planning, preparation and delivery of lessons with a focus on children with special educational needs
- Assisting teachers in organising workshops for parents to increase understanding of the importance of early intervention
Skills, qualifications and experience required
You’ll be a qualified teacher with at least three years’ experience in working with children with special educational needs. Experience of developing inclusive teaching methodology is essential, and patience and adaptability are key to living and working in a developing country. You’ll need to be able to adapt your knowledge and skills to a new cultural context, be able to work effectively as part of team as well as individually using your own initiative.
And the rest...
Known as the ‘Land of the thousand hills’, Rwanda is one of the smallest and most beautiful countries in Africa. You’ll be based in the small town of Mushubi in the south of Rwanda, which has a cool and pleasant climate all year round. As for food, the staple Rwandan diet is beans, rice, grilled bananas and fast food favourites such as spicy fried meatballs and goat shish kebabs.
We’ll ask you to commit to 12-24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local salary, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.
Stories
FAQ
Does VSO pay my pension while I volunteer?
No, unless you work for the NHS and are leaving your job to volunteer.
Contact us
+44(0)20 8780 7500
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