Volunteer to Teach English in Ghana

We are seeking volunteers to teach English at Westminster Comprehensive School, a private Ghanaian school established in September 2002. Now the school has a population of 460 students with over forty teaching and non-teaching support staff.

Ghana was once a British colony, and so English is the national language. English (and French) volunteers would help the children improve the use of the language and enhance the knowledge of the students.

Kumasi is the second-largest city in the country and it is popularly known as "The Garden City" or "heart beat" of Ghana because of its many beautiful species of flowers and plants. The largest ethnic group is the Ashanti, but other ethnic groups are growing in size. Approximately 80% of the population is Christian and 5% Muslim, with a smaller number of adherents to traditional beliefs.

Ghana is an English speaking country that gives volunteers a wonderful introduction to Africa. The country is politically stable, safe, affordable and characterised by its warm friendly people. It's an experience you'll cherish and remember for the rest of your life.

In their stay in Ghana volunteers teach a lot of subjects including, English, Maths, and Science. The pictures here show the volunteers teaching different subjects at different times and classrooms.

Your Accommodation and Food

There is no charge for accommodation or food. Accommodation would be provided for all prospective teaching volunteers as well as provision of local dishes (the local food is stew based, rice and curry, yams and beef, potatoes and chicken and some English dishes).

Your only costs are travel to and from Accra, the capital of Ghana. Please read our FAQ on preparing to stay in Ghana. It answers all your questions on important criteria such as visas, passports, vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis and travel and health insurance.

Occasional and weekend use of a car would also be provided. If volunteers use school vehicles and drivers to see other parts of Ghana then a contribution to fuel and drivers accommodation is required.

Correspondence from Other Schools

Westminster Comprehensive School welcomes correspondence from students in other schools. Connect your classroom with our school in Ghana and learn first hand what school is like for children in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Westminster Comprehensive School is a private school that serves a wide variety of people from different race, ethnic background, and religion. Admission of boys and girls starts from age 3 and continues to age 15 (Junior High School).

Please write to the Head Teacher, Mr Henry Osei Tutu, at Westminster Comprehensive School, PO Box 5395, Kumasi, Ghana. Or use our Contact Form to find out more about connecting your school with Westminster School.

You can find out more about assisting Westminster Comprehensive School in Ghana by donating any surplus school text books and basic furniture such as tables and chairs.

Ghana

The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. See map of Ghana and Ashanti region.

The climate is tropical. The eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry; the southwest corner, hot and humid; and the north, hot and dry.

Ghana is a country of 22 million people comprising over 60 ethnic groups. The average life expectancy is 60 years. It is similar in size to the UK.

Ghana was the first sub-Saharn country to be visted by US President Obama.

Languages

Fifty two major languages and hundreds of dialects are spoken in Ghana, and English, the official language of Ghana, is spoken by many.

Since September 2002, the policy is for English to be used from the start of primary education, with a Ghanaian language studied as a compulsory subject up to senior secondary school level.

As a third language, French is understood by 13% of the population.

Independence Day

Ghana gained independence from the British on 6th March, 1957 and became a republic on 1st July, 1960.

For the purpose of this Ghanaians take the opportunity of this and celebrate their independence every 6th of March and this year was never an exception.

School Examinations

The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) throughout Ghana under tight security.

This important examination is both for certification and selection to Senior Secondary Schools and Technical Institutes.

Candidates must be in the third year of a Junior Secondary School that is approved by the Ghana Education Service to be eligible to take part in this examination.

The examination is conducted nationwide in April and it is of five-day duration.