Has anyone taught in Anglophone sub-Saharan Africa?
 

In eighteen months or thereabouts, I'll be a qualified primary school teacher. And I'll be heading off to Africa and Asia. Anyway, I'm wondering just how ... realistic my chances are at scoring a teaching gig? I mean, in Rwanda, last I heard, only 60-70% of teachers were qualified. Less in secondary schools. And I'm guessing Rwanda's education system would be significantly better than, say, Sierra Leone's.

A Ugandan friend reckons I'd have no trouble at all getting a job, but I'd like to hear from someone who's actually done it. And too, I'm not interested in working with or for any NGOs or voluntourism businesses. I just want to be a regular teacher.

Don't do it !!
 

Yes, you'll have no trouble of getting a teaching job and in the process take a job which is intended for a local, thinking you are doing a good thing but in the process disrupting local balances! You would be another "good hearted volunteer" adding to the problem of Africa and pushing them further into dependence !!! If you want to teach, teach the teachers but don't go teach the children. If you want to know more about this, there are some long and interesting threads on the same subject. Have a look at this thread!

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...t=volunteering

cheers,
Noel

Valid point.

But one can't teach teachers without first being an experienced teacher.

EDIT:

To make it clear, I'd eventually like to set up a small school -- ala St Jude's in Tanzania -- but I need to be an experienced teacher first. I do see your point, however. But I'm concerned that teaching only in Australia, say, won't give me the necessary skills to do that.

EDIT:

If only I could buy a place of some sort and figure out a way of getting funding so I could afford to hire a couple of local teachers.

disturbing balances
 

Chris,

the idea of setting up a school may seem good and productive. But again, many initiatives sparked by westerners may seem to work well until you try to leave them up to the care of the local people, which should be the goal of any project. They fall to pieces as soon as you leave the project because these project are not based on local concepts, local way of thinking, local traditions etc.

Before you set up anything or intend to set up anything in Africa, spend at least a year travelling around, keep your eyes and ears wide open, try to understand the people and their culture, visit projects, get an idea what is successful and what not. And always keep in mind that you cannot develop other people, they have develop themselves!

Maybe I am to cynical about volunteering and charity but I have seen to much havoc created in the name of "help" by do gooders and NGO's. Have you wondered why 50 years of aid and "development work" has not helped Africa in any way!

cheers,
Noel

Thank you for your advice.