Writers at Malawi Institute of Education at Malawi Institute of Education

Background

¬With financial assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), is implementing the Upper Primary Reading (UPRead) Activity. UPRead is a five-year project aimed at instituting a comprehensive and sustainable reading materials development system to improve learning outcomes in Standards 5 to 8. The project started last year and has developed English and Chichewa Teacher Guides and Learner Books for Standards 5 and 6.
Applications are being invited from suitably qualified and experienced teachers and Teacher Training College (TTC) lecturers to develop English and Chichewa stories and other texts for Standards 7 and 8. Successful applicants will undergo a one-week orientation and will be evaluated throughout this training. A total of 40 writers will then be selected to participate in a three-week workshop to create texts in English and Chichewa languages for Standards 7 and 8 learners.

Applicants should take note of the following terms and conditions of engagement:

1. This is not a full-time job but a temporary engagement of applicants to support MIE in developing a language curriculum for Standards 7 and 8 learners;
2. Successful applicants will be required to look for their own accommodation and will be paid a Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) at the approved donor rate;
3. Allowances will be paid through bank transfers after registration.
4. Travel expenses to and from the workshop will be refunded based on the cost of the most direct public transport and presentation of a valid bus ticket;
5. Reimbursement for fuel expenses will be based on the rate of MK200.00 per kilometer;
6. Prior arrangement with Activity Coordinators is required for officers travelling by personal vehicles. Any participant who will use a personal vehicle without prior arrangement with the Coordinators, will be reimbursed fuel based on the most direct public transport fare;
Applications from teachers and TTC lecturers will be reviewed separately based on criteria specified under relevant experience for each category as follows:

Relevant Experience for Primary School Teachers 

1. Must be currently teaching English and or Chichewa in Standards 7 and 8 or have previous experience teaching these subjects and standards
2. Must be passionate and committed to improve learners’ reading performance
3. Preference will be given to applicants who already have some practical experience in language curriculum development at MIE or with other partners such as UNICEF, Save the Children, USAID, World Vision
4. Consideration will also be given to teachers who participated in developing Standards 1 to 6 materials
5. Proficiency in English and Chichewa languages is strongly required
6. Ability to manage time effectively so that all tasks set for the day are accomplished
7. Female teachers who meet these requirements are strongly encouraged to apply to expand their knowledge and skills for creating and delivering quality language curriculum in their classroom

Relevant Experience for Teacher Training College Lecturers

1. Must be language specialists currently teaching either English or Chichewa or both subjects
2. Has taught language courses at a TTC for a minimum of 5 years
3. Has a good track record of achieving results in the classroom supported with specific and
relevant documents
4. Must be passionate and committed to improve learners’ reading performance.
5. Evidence of participation in literacy interventions implemented in primary schools such as the National Reading Programme (NRP), Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA), Read Malawi, Malawi Teacher Professional Development Support (MTPDS), Malawi Teacher Training Activity (MTTA), Literacy Boost, Strengthening Early Grade Reading in Malawi (SEGREM)
6. Evidence of practical experience in language curriculum development at MIE for primary schools
7. Consideration will also be given to lecturers who participated in developing Standards 1 to 6 materials
8. Proficiency in English and Chichewa languages is strongly required
9. Ability to manage time effectively so that all tasks set for the day are accomplished.
10. Female lecturers who meet these requirements are strongly encouraged to apply to expand their knowledge and skills for creating and delivering quality language curriculum in their classroom
11. Those with a Master’s degree majoring either in Language Arts or Literacy Education will have an added advantage

Responsibilities for Writers

Roles of writers include:

1. Generating creative ideas for writing different types of texts
2. Following criteria/guidelines for developing high quality children’s literature/stories
3. Using creative ideas and guidelines to write different types of texts
4. Developing art briefs for illustrations that will accompany the texts
5. Formulating comprehension questions for learners to answer before, during and after reading the texts
6. Evaluating own work based on a checklist/evaluation rubric provided by Coordinators
7. Suggesting effective reading activities before, during and after reading the text
8. Attending all briefing/check in meetings
9. Achieving set daily and weekly targets
10. Revising work based on feedback given 

For primary school teachers, please submit your application together with:

1) a reference letter from either your Head of Section, or the Headteacher or the Primary Education Advisor (PEA). The letter should bear your school’s official stamp;
2) any evidence of recognition you have received because of your professional achievement such as Best Teacher, Star Teacher, Key Teacher, Top Performing Teacher, Most Creative Teacher, Good Performance Award, etc. 

For TTC Lecturers, please submit your application together with:

1) a reference letter from your Head of Department and the Principal bearing your college’s official stamp;
2) any evidence of recognition you may have received because of your professional achievement such as Best Lecturer