The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to
support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of
development, and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace
and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism
into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.
In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and
support within the communities. In this context, UNV volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism
and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local
communities.
In all assignments, UNV volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in
volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as
well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the
time they spend as UNV volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

Background to the assignment of international UNV Lesotho College of Education (LCE)
Distance Teacher Education Programme (DTEP) Development Worker
The establishment of the Distance Teacher Education Programme (DTEP) came as a response to
the material need to improvements in the number and professional quality of primary school
teachers in Lesotho, as it became evident with the implementation of the Free Primary Education
(FPE) initiative. In 2002, when DTEP began, existing on-campus programmes of the College
could not meet the growing demand nor could the schools and qualifying teachers afford fulltime
training programmes. The distance education mode of teacher training was therefore chosen
as the most suitable and least disruptive option to meet the needs of the primary education sector
at that time.
DTEP is specifically designed as an in-service training programme for experienced but
unqualified and under-qualified primary school teachers teaching in Lesotho primary schools.
The programme caters for serving teachers with at least two years of teaching experience.
Trainees study on-the-job, relying mainly on study modules and weekend workshops in
organized clusters within their regions. In addition to using study modules and attending
workshops, trainees receive support from the site tutors who visit them in schools to observe
them teach and provide any needed support on study materials and teaching.

The programme aims to improve the professional competence of practicing unqualified teachers;
to increase their knowledge; improve their understanding of the subjects in the primary school
curriculum; refine their intellectual and practical skills and encourage the development of strong
personal interests. Trainees who complete the DTEP, graduate with a Diploma in Education
Primary and acquire a status similar to that attained by pre-service trainees.
Functions and responsibilities of the international UNV volunteer
Under the general supervision of the Director Distance Education (DDE), the international UNV
volunteer shall be responsible for coordinating activities of the Full-Time Site Tutors in her/his
region, such as attending meetings; keeping records of activities and student profiles in the
region; constructing the budget for the region and assessing the operation of the programme.
She/he will be expected to contribute in many ways outlined below to the development of the
DTEP programme, including its curriculum, assessment and learner-support arrangements.
Duties and Responsibilities
The international UNV volunteer will, in the course of his/her assignment, work closely with the
national UNV LCE-DTEP Tutor to ensure maximum delivery on the project; a mutually
supportive working environment in which knowledge and skills are exchanged freely and a
cooperative approach to all planning and implementation of activities on the project. He/She will
also:
(A) Assess programme performance and needs
1. At the outset, conduct with the national UNV volunteer counterpart, a needs assessment
of the programme through survey, interviews and focus groups
2. (a) Collect and prepare summaries for monthly reports (workshops; class visits;
counseling etc.) from Site Tutors of the region
(b) Help organize student evaluation of the programme delivery and services.
3. Check and help organize student profiles in the region and train others in the same
4. Help develop a system of filing and maintaining all site information in her/his region
5. Help develop DTEP in general.
(B) Provide technical assistance to off-campus training sessions
1. Serve full-time in the site or sites assigned to her/him
2. Supervise full-time in the region assigned to her/him
3. Be available to support students and tutors in the region
4. Schedule and supervise cluster workshops in the region
5. Help develop learning materials for students
6. Help in the processing of claims for Part-Time Site Tutors and send them to the DDE's
office
7. Participate in constructing budgets for activities of the region and submit them to the
DDE's office
8. Collaborate with other teachers, officers etc. in the region and beyond for DTEP purposes
9. Participate in the development of the DTEP consolidated budget
10. Periodically report on the activities of her/his region to the DDE's office.
(C) Provide technical assistance to residential training sessions
1. Help assess the conduct of face-to-face training sessions, including on-campus revision
work
2. Provide input to staff on assignments and examination questions
3. Attend meetings with Tutors and/or students.
(D) Liaise with LCE in curriculum design and the development of course material
1. Help review and develop the DTEP curriculum
2. Assist in the development of learning materials
3. Help review and revise DTEP modules.