The Aga Khan Academy is hiring a Teacher of Farsi and Iranian Student Support Coordinator.
The position
The Aga Khan Academies are a planned network of residential schools being established to educate students of exceptional intellectual talent and potential across Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East. The first Academy opened in Mombasa, Kenya, in 2003; the second Academy opened in Hyderabad, India, in 2011; the third opened in Maputo, Mozambique, in 2013; the fourth opened in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2022.
Each Academy has an International Talent Identification (ITID) Programme, which brings students from the community, from specific countries, who demonstrate great academic and leadership potential to attend an Academy, supported by financial aid. Each year, a small number of Iranian students are selected to attend the Academy in Maputo as part of this programme. The first students arrived in August 2021.
Fifteen Iranian students will be studying at the Academy by August 2023. Thereafter, the number should grow, until four Iranian students are studying in each grade, from Grade 6-12.
The Academy in Maputo is looking to recruit a teacher of Farsi who will also be a cultural link and pastoral support to the Iranian students, to join in August 2023. S/he must be fluent in written and spoken English and must be knowledgeable about Iranian culture, history, and traditions.
Responsibilities
- Teaching Farsi (language and literature) to students at secondary level up to and including the IB Diploma Programme;
- Providing academic and personal support to all Iranian students studying at the Aga Khan Academy. This involves closely monitoring the academic performance and personal well-being of each student;
- Encouraging and supporting students’ involvement in extracurricular activities at school and in the broader local community;
- Communicating regularly with the families of each of the students regarding their child’s well-being and academic progress;
- Building a sense of unity and family amongst the students and across the wider school community;
- Contributing to the residential life of the Academy and the development of a nurturing, enriching environment for all students who live on campus;
- Assisting and supporting the students’ development of English language competence;
- Supporting the marketing of the ITID programme to Iranian families and the induction sessions for newly selected students in Iran, either virtually or in person;
- Chaperoning returning students between the Academy and Iran once a year. Traveling to Iran to pick up new students each year, if their travel occurs mid-year;
- Provide occasional support with translation of documents related to the Academy, the IB programme, and the International Talent Identification Programme into Farsi, as requested by the ITID Programme Manager.
The requirements
The ideal candidate will have the following profile:
- Fluency in English, both oral and written;
- High level of proficiency in Farsi language and experience teaching languages at secondary level;
- Teaching aptitude/expertise for enquiry-based, student-centred methods in the context of a sound subject knowledge and understanding;
- A minimum of two years’ experience as a secondary school teacher;
- Excellent academic achievement, including a university degree, and a record of significant involvement in residential programs, student leadership, music, athletics and / or community service;
- Experience in a pastoral care role, commitment to this role in a residential school setting;
- Excellent organisational and planning skills;
- High degree of maturity and resilience; the ability to remain calm under pressure;
- Genuine interest in and commitment to the mission of the Aga Khan Academies;
- Knowledge of the International Baccalaureate curriculum would be an added advantage.