Bristo International Academy

Introduction:

Bristo International Academy for nursery, primary and secondary school was established in 2020 and provides a safe and supportive environment, which allows all pupils to strive for academic and personal success. The school Motto: ‘’The End is the Beginning ‘’ The school became an independent public school in 2020. This has allowed the school the flexibility to appoint new staff and use its finances to run programs that the best suit the needs of the school. We have experienced and caring staffs who works to provide a range of learning opportunities to challenge individual needs of students/pupils. The facilities of Bristo International Academy for nursery, primary and secondary school have semi-permanent classroom structure with interactive chalkboard, library materials (textbooks). The school is building up its supply of handheld devices like Music Dance and Drama.

Our Mission:

To provide quality international education for the development of creative, collaborative, Intellectual critical and responsible global citizens.

Committed to excellence, integrity, humanity and services to school and community. We also support the country’s aspiration in being an international education Centre.

Our Vision:

To be the international school of choice for learners to pursue their aspirations and contribute to the world.

Strategic framework:

Bristo International Academy nursery, primary and secondary school’s strategy is in line with the Government of South Sudan and global strategies and pillars/goals. It strongly supports the Government’s Vision 2030 and millennium Development Goals. The priority of the strategy is to achieve universal primary education, and promote lifelong learning, improve literacy and provision of learning opportunities for all, promote gender equality and empowering the marginalized and vulnerable children to have access to learning. The project will not only address the immediate causes but also build on the structures to address the underlying causes of poor performances and enrolment of pupils and students through strengthening the capacity of teachers, parents and pupils/students in building quality public education system in the country.

Bristo International Academy nursery, primary and secondary has already started primary and secondary school in Juba city since 2024 that currently registered over 150 pupils and students receiving quality learning, we are dedicated and committed to improve public education system through public-private sector initiatives which significantly help to contribute towards improving the living standards and conditions of the vulnerable children in juba city to access quality education in Juba Republic of South Sudan.

Description of the project needs:

More than two million children or over 70 percent are out of school in South Sudan, Putting at risk their futures and the future of the country. Some of the out-of-school children are living in pastoral communities, moving with their cattle and are not able to attend regular classes. The largest groups of out-of-school children in South Sudan are girls due to high level of poverty, child marriage and negative cultural beliefs and conflicts all contributed to hinder and affect quality education for the vulnerable children in South Sudan.

Overall Strategy:

Bristo International Academy nursery, primary Secondary school also understands the overriding principle of providing quality education system to the public through provision of integrated education system and approach that will privilege the expansion, stability, standardization and harmonization and ensuring strong culture of accountability and transparency throughout approach of work.

1.      Collaborative and participative Approach:

With specific regard to local authority in Juba City, Bristo International Academy for nursery, Primary and secondary will maintain and strengthen effective collaborative approach that will characterizes our intervention approach based on effective participatory approach and mechanism to strengthen quality education system for the learners and parents through public-private sector initiatives.

2.      Recognizing the role of pupils and students in school:

We shall recognize the roles that pupils and students as well the whole community have in providing opportunities to empower their children for the future through. Pupils are expected to care for each other to be respectful and resilient, be inclusive of others regardless of their differences, be accountable for their actions, actively participate in learning and to do their best in acquiring new skills and learning.

3.      Strengthening the capacity of parents:

We shall work closely with parents to ensure they follow the Parent Code of conduct in improving the quality of our education system, form a supportive partnership with their child’s teacher during school period and ensure our parents are able to support the school’s beliefs and programs of Bristo International academy and maintain open and respective communication with teachers and school, hence send their children fully prepared to school.

4.      Redevelop modern school structure:

We shall redevelop modern school structure to accommodate quality number of school children with modern structure such as classrooms, computer Lab, Library, Offices, conference hall and wall fence for school to conduct debate, Music Dance and Drama and other indoor extra-curriculum activities and improved sanitary facilities for pupils, students and staff.

Strategies to improve High Quality Teaching in Bristo International Academy for nursery, primary and secondary sections:

We shall all increase opportunities for collaboration between staff to improve quality-teaching mechanism in Bristo International Academy for nursery, Primary and secondary.

§  Teaching staff will collaborate through Moderation activities and analyses of data on weekly, monthly and termly basis.

§  School administration will plan collaboration with other existing schools, Ministry of education and other development partners within the city to improve quality of coordination and networking in promoting quality learning system for vulnerable children.

§  Establish library to provide positive reading and learning culture within the school.

§  Conduct regularly staff review meetings among teaching staff and parent teacher association in order to improve quality-working relationship with different stakeholders.

§  Bristo International Academy for nursery, Primary and secondary will continue to identify pupils and students to support them in their learning process in order to improve consistency in their learning and performance.

§  Bristo International Academy for nursery primary will ensure each pupil and students reaches to their full potential.

§  Bristo International Academy will implement case management approach.

§  We shall identify children with disabilities and provide them with opportunities to become more confident and competent to improve their performance in the school.

§  We also equip the school with desktops and laptops computers to improve the knowledge of both teacher and learners through ICT technology.

§  Learners and teachers will be able to access technology to improve literacy and numeracy.

Effective Leadership:

Bristo International Academy will plan to support pupils and staff wellbeing based on the classroom first:

v  Building positive culture of high performance and care for every child in the school.

v  Bristo International Academy ensure health and wellbeing committee is form to monitor the wellbeing of the school teachers and learners.

v  Bristo International Academy will continue to provide opportunities for learners and staff to undertake leadership roles in promoting good practices.

v  Opportunities are provided for learners to participate in courses and programs (Good governance and leadership skills).

v  Aspiring school leaders are provided opportunities to lead in school focus areas.

Stakeholder Analysis:

The project will be implemented in close collaboration with line with special reference to the Ministry of Education. The stakeholders will be involved in decision-making and implementation throughout the project implementation period. The line ministry will provide technical support service through supervision and capacity building on specific business technical and management skills. Their inputs will mainly be on technical backstopping and linkages to frontline.

Project Investment Cost and financial performance:

The total estimated cost for this investment is about $50,000 to $250,000

Development Impacts of this investment:

This project will increase over 40 direct employment opportunities and thousands indirect jobs and other benefits through the inter-linked induced activities. The net employment effect is generally expected to grow in tandem with the establishment of this investment opportunities and consolidation of its business/marketing position within the local market opportunities for private schools in Juba City-South Sudan.

This private school investment is expected to benefit at least 60% girls and 40% in the suburb area of Juba city-South Sudan to improve on education (literacy) among the communities of South Sudan and bring fast returns to the owner and therefore, improve the economy of the country.

Value for Money:

§  The project includes a variety of activities, this selection of activities allows Bristo International academy to engage in the activities that directly respond to the problems and are feasible, effective and cost efficient in their area of strengthening quality education system.

§  Bristo International academy has existing programming footprint with experience and expertise in sectors of education with existing staff that will reduce the costs on recruitment and other needs.

§  Bristo International Academy will adapt performance budgeting that will focus on outcomes and high level of outputs, project staffs will also be engaged on performance contracting with clear performance indicators/milestone reviewed every quarter and an annual appraisal to determine next contracting term of employment. Performance contracting will also be adopted for services and works contracting this will help in transferring the risk thus improving on quality of performance of teachers and learners.

§  Bristo International academy will develop a monitoring plan that focuses on short term indicators to allow for timely review of the implementation progress. Competitive procurement will be used to reveal and award service providers who can deliver the best value for money during the project implementation period.

§  Bristo International academy will ensure any spending will be justified according to the three concepts: Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness (the ‘’3s’’) which form a result chain below. VFM will be assessed at each of the three stages, namely inputs, outputs and outcomes.

VFM in the results chain

§  Economy:

Bristo International Academy will ensure that the cost per unit of input (e.g. Project deliverables, Products, Materials Fuel, Transport and salaries) are minimized or at least kept within reasonable bounds, salaries and allowances will be compliant to South Sudan Labor Cost.

§  Efficiency:

Bristo International academy will uphold efficiency by ensuring that the cost per output (delivered complete service or product, completed structure, person attended to, training course completed) are

Minimized and kept within an acceptable range. This will be done in open and transparent manner as strictly stipulated in procurement policy of Bristo international academy that every spending requires the approval from school director.

§  Effectiveness:

The School Management Team (SMT) will at-time ensure that the intended outcome of the project is to be achieved within a reasonable cost. Both quantitative and qualitative aspects of the outputs will be put into consideration in assessing the effectiveness of the project.

§  Budgeting:

The costs of interventions are estimated using the current market rates and experiences from the previous projects in School from other private schools in South Sudan.

§  Cost-Efficiency Analysis:

Bristo International academy will carry out cost benchmarking at the planning stage, this process may be a signal to review features of the project, which might subsequently be changed in case of discrepancies between the unit cost of deliverables.

School Management Team:

Bristo International academy will be responsible for the overall management, coordination and monitoring of the school events. To ensure that sufficient management and monitoring/evaluation resources are available, Bristo International Academy will establish project Management Team to ensure progress reviewed on quarterly basis.

Key stakeholder in School Management-

School Director:

§  Provide strategic and long-range planning for the development of the school.

§  Ensure adequate facilities for the school.

§  Hire and annually evaluate the administrative heads, hire and annually renew the contracts of all other school employees.

§  Share in developing and complying with due process, procedure (for resolving disputes and other conflicts such procedures must be approved by both teachers and the director).

§  Set operational policies in the school.

§  Set and see an operational budget.

§  Oversee compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations.

§  Oversee school certificate and accreditation.

§  Provide members annually to serve on the standing committees maintained respectively by the board, the staff assembly and PTA. (Human resources-1, Member-1, Finance-1, Development-1, Curriculum and Educational Strategies-1, Nomiating-1).

§  Share in the approval of amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws.

PTA Chairperson:

§  Works with School Leaders and the PTA Board to determine and implement the goals, events and activities for the school year.

§  Presides over all meetings of the Parents’ Association and the Boards.

§  Serves as an ex-officio of all Parents’ Association Committees.

§  Exercises general supervision and leadership over the affairs of the Association.

§  Supports the various school functions.

§  Advocates for students, parents, staff and administrators with primary intent to optimize the children’s learning environment.

Secretary:

§  Attend all Parents’ Association meetings.

§  Takes and types the minutes of all meeting and emails the finished minutes to the PTA chairperson and school director for approval.

Treasurer:

§  Maintains custody of all funds of the PTA association.

§  Keeps an accurate record of receipts and expenditures.

§  Disburses funds of the association.

§  Works with the chairperson to create an annual budget for the PTA association.

§  Presents the budget to the PTA and Board of directors for approval.

§  Obtain/monitor monthly income statements and balance sheets.

§  Works with accountant to ensure the timely filling of taxes and other areas.

Head Teacher

A head teacher must prepare to fac a wide range of challenges and responsibilities daily. He should be able to communicate in the public and spend time on his own completing administrative assignments.  His main duties and responsibilities include:

§  Creating an academic program for students that meets national standard.

§  Working closely and communicating with students’ parents.

§  Helping assesses students’ needs and development.

§  Selecting, training, supporting and assessing staff.

§  Providing guidance to staff to help resolve issues with students.

§  Using data to track students’ performance and produce result.

§  Working with external school finances.

§  Ensuring the safety of all learners and teachers in the school.

The School Management Committees:

§  Admissions are made without discretions.

§  The welfare of teachers and other employees are taken care of by the SMC.

§  Appointment of teachers and other employees shall be made with the committees’ approval.

§  The SMC shall have financial powers beyond those delegated to the principal.

§  They can audit the academics and activities without interfering with the freedom of the principal.

§  The fees and other charges shall be approved by the SMC.

§  The budget shall be presented by the head teacher and be reviewed by the SMC.

§  The SMC shall also review the steps taken for the safety and security of the students and staff in the school.

§  The SMC shall investigate the grievances of the staff and deal with these appropriately.

The school Bursar:

§  Oversee day-day cash management.

§  Management accounts payable and receivable.

§  Keep organized books of tuition fees and files of receipts.

§  Prepared expense reports on a regular basis.

§  Manage annual budget.

§  Conduct cost and productivity analysis.

§  Review employment contracts and terms of services.

§  Design and update financial procedures.

§  Laise with local authorities and school governors.

§  Report to the school general financial performance and investment/funding opportunities.