Project Specialist: Universities -Grahamstown at Funda Wande

Purpose of Role    

• The purpose of the role is to work with universities and other agencies to support pre- and in-service teacher education in the Foundation Phase with a focus on early literacy.

Objectives of Role    
Teacher education/training for teaching early literacy in the Foundation Phase:
Teaching (and in some cases, coordinating) on the following courses developed collaboratively by the Centre for Social Development (CSD) at Rhodes University and Funda Wande:

• The Advanced Certificate in Foundation Phase Literacy Teaching
• The aligned Short Courses in Foundation Phase Literacy Teaching
• The Short Course in Coaching for Teacher Professional Development

Development of teacher education resources in African languages:

• Assisting in the continuing development of resources to be used in the Rhodes CSD/Funda Wande
• courses (e.g. videos, assessment tools, etc.)
• Assisting in the creation of an online version of the Short Courses aligned to the Advanced Certificate
• in Foundation Phase Literacy Teaching
• Assisting in the development of training videos in the 9 official African languages to enable the versioning of Funda Wande’s Reading Academy

 Research and mentoring/supervising postgraduate students

• Keeping abreast of research in early literacy learning and teaching
• Participating in Funda Wande and CSD research projects
• Where appropriate, participating in Funda Wande research and the Funda Wande Community of
• Practice (CoP)
• Where appropriate, co-supervising postgraduate students who are researching early literacy

Advocacy for early literacy teacher education

• Attending conferences, writing articles and learning briefs, etc
• Advocating for the use of Funda Wande resources (e.g. videos, workbooks, Reading Academy) in
• teacher professional development at universities
• Participating in Funda Wande and CSD advocacy for teacher professional development and for the
• CSD/Funda Wande courses

Administration

• Attending CSD and Funda Wande meetings where appropriate
• Carrying out administrative duties related to teaching on and coordinating courses (e.g.,planning,
• recruitment, registration, marking, reports to funders, etc.)
• Assisting the Project Manager: Universities with administration related activities
• Assisting with the organization of the Funda Wande Literacy Communities of Practice (CoP)

Experience and Qualifications    

• Primary school teaching qualification (must include teaching of early literacy)
• Minimum MEd (preferably with an early literacy focus)
• It will be an advantage to have a PhD or be working towards one
• If the appointee does not have a PhD nor is studying towards one, they will be expected to register for a PhD in early literacy (part-time) at Rhodes University (cost of tuition will be covered by Rhodes)
• Experience of teaching in Foundation Phase or Intermediate Phase (Home/Additional Language)
• essential
• Experience in literacy teacher education and/or coaching an advantage

Competencies    

• An interest in and alignment to Funda Wande’s Vision and Values
• Attention to detail and extremely organized
• Committed to improving processes and systems
• Work well under pressure and with changing deliverables
• Confident, proactive, self-reliant and performance oriented
• Great team player
• High degree of emotional intelligence
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
• Disciplined administrative skills