High School STEM Teacher – Philippines to Malawi
QED.ai (https://qed.ai) is a tech company focused on public health andfood security in Sub-Saharan Africa. We build the digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence that empowers the intersection of aid and scientific inquiry, including epidemiological surveillance of HIV and malaria, nutrient analysis of crops and soils, and STEM education. Our funding comes from multiple philanthropic and governmental organizations such as the Global Fund, PEPFAR, and the Gates Foundation.
We are looking for an inspiring first-class High School STEM Teacher from the Philippines to join our team in Lilongwe, Malawi for at least one year, with the opportunity for extension if mutually agreeable. Key disciplines of interest are mathematics, mechatronics, physics, and chemistry. You would be riding on the coattails of an existing successful initiative, in which a new school has just been launched, and the first national-scale math olympiad in the history of Malawi has been executed by our organization and partners.
In addition to being fully funded, the job position also includes transportation to Malawi, and the provision of housing, board, and health insurance. Qualified applicants can earn between 90000 PHP and 200000 PHP or more per month depending on experience and ability, and can be negotiated.
Motivation for this Position
STEM literacy is critical to the achievement and long-term sustainability of the Sustainable Development Goals. After 15 years of working on impact in over 23 developing countries, QED.ai has observed that medical data, agricultural data, financial data, and business data are all overwhelmingly underused. Few public policies are informed by data or scientific thinking. Data is only used as a means of reporting particular indicators to upstream donors for reasons that few understand or remember. Scarcity of STEM capacity prevents local actors from engaging critically with data, questioning assumptions, making non-trivial computations, and being entrusted to manage large programs without continued reliance on international NGOs.
Mathematics and Science must be the foundation of decision making in public health and agronomy. Technology and Engineering must supply practical techniques for applying science and math to the real-world. We aim to prioritize the indoctrination of core STEM skills to the next generation of bright people who will become tomorrow’s leaders.
Scope of Work
Teach STEM each day to precocious children that are interested in learning more. Our primary focus is mathematics. Secondary focus is mechatronics if the expertise is available. You do not need to be proficient at both.
Start with private education with selected students, focused on creative problem solving. Expand as the curriculum is stabilized and adapted to local needs.
Co-develop high school lesson plans and curriculums, focusing on practical STEM topics that QED.ai has identified as essential for the next generation to know.
Lead a weekly math circle open to a small group of community members, including both adults and children, to solve creative and fun math problems at the children’s level.
Planning and adminstration of national-scale STEM contests, such as Mathematical Kangaroo and the Pan-African Mathematical Olympiad. You will have assistance in administration from local staff, but must also be willing to engage in some administration work as necessary for the greater good.
Work with QED on governmental advocacy to set higher standards for STEM proficiency.
Assist executives with business development in education, and building stronger partnerships in STEM collaboration between Asia and Africa.
Requirements
Technical
Proficiency in teaching core STEM subjects at the junior high and high school level. Candidates should be proficient in Mathematics, or Physical Science, or both. These areas include the following topics:
Math: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability, and general problem-solving
Physical Science: mechatronics (electronics and robotics), physics, and/or chemistry
Enthusiasm for inspiring students to explore and pursue STEM fields.
Ability to encourage students to think critically, solve problems independently, and develop resilience and perseverance.
Passion for making STEM topics fun, engaging, and relevant to real-world applications, including hands-on laboratory experiments.
Leadership in organizing STEM-related extracurricular activities and competitions.
Experience with coaching and mentoring students for mathematics, science, or technology competitions (e.g., Math Olympiad, Science Fairs, Coding Competitions). Success in guiding students to win in regional or national competitions.
General
Willingness to physically relocate from the Philippines to Lilongwe, Malawi in Sub-Saharan Africa to directly teach the youth.
Working proficiency (≥C1) in speaking and reading English, and capable of typing English with a speed of at least ≥25 words per minute.
Patience to work with children, and genuine happiness to see them grow.
Logical reasoning and ability to express oneself clearly, both orally and in writing.
Basic fluency with Excel, Word, and Powerpoint.
Willingness and interest in working with people from other cultures. Emotional resilience and social intelligence to communicate and work with collaborators from around the world, including Africa, Europe, USA, and Asia.
… and you have to care about the work that you do!
Bonus
Additional skills that are a bonus, but are not required:
Past participation in STEM-related national or international competitions, such as but not limited to MTAP, PPO PMO, NOI, and TAMA, or working with PSHS.
Experience with technology education for high school, such as basic programming in Python, Scratch programming,, or experiments with circuits and kids’ robotics.