World Teachers' Day 2011  

October 5, 2011

An Adelaide teacher is using her passion for improving access to universal quality primary education to help strengthen the curriculum at a small school half way around the world.   

Today, as the global community celebrates educators through World Teachers' Day, Allison Gosnold is working as a primary school maths teacher at Golgotha English Medium School in Dhaka, Bangladesh.    

Allison is an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD), one of hundreds of passionate young volunteers making a difference on short-term assignments across Asia, the Pacific and Africa. 

Much like Dhaka itself, Allison says her role at the school can be unpredictable, exciting and very busy - but her goals are very clear. 

“During my time here I will be running teacher workshops where we will be looking at maths and how the school can improve teaching practice,” Allison says. 

“At the end of my assignment I hope to be leaving behind a finished maths curriculum to class 11, as well as games and resources to support this curriculum.” 

World Teachers' Day is marked by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on October 5 each year to celebrate the profession and promote international teaching standards.

Allison says her AYAD experience has reinforced her belief that education is one of life’s most important opportunities, and that teaching is a “life-changing profession”.

“Here and in other countries having an education could be the difference between being able to eat and provide for your family or not.”

Allison says the AYAD Program has broadened her knowledge and strengthened her teaching skills.

 “I am running teacher training and writing curriculum, which are new experiences for me and professional activities someone of my age would rarely have to opportunity to be involved in back in Australia.”

Before moving from South Australia to Bangladesh, Allison completed a Graduate Diploma in Psychology and was working part time as a primary school teacher. Allison has previously visited schools in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Ethiopia, and says she is passionate to be involved in assisting all children to access quality primary education.

The AYAD Program is part of Australian Volunteers for International Development, an Australian Government, AusAID initiative. For more about Australian Volunteers for International Development visit www.ausaid.gov.au/volunteer.

To view a printable pdf version of this media release, please click here.