2022-2023 ALA Parents and Students Handbook (Oct 2022)

AFRICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
HANDBOOK FOR
STUDENTS & PARENTS
2022 - 2023
Switchboard: +27 (0)11 699 3000
deansoffice@africanleadershipacademy.org
Shule ya Africa!
(Written by Tabitha Tongoi, Winnie Imbuchi & the students of ALA)
It started with a dream

To change our Africa.
Developed into a team
To fight for Africa.
Africa, shule ya Africa.

Africa, a school for Africa.
John is saying no to poverty.

Zahra is saying no to famine.
Shoki’s saying no to inequality.

“Never doubt that a small

group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can
change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
1
2022- 23 ALA ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Term Dates & Signature Events
2
Quick Reference and Contact Information
Department / Individual Email Contact Number
+27 11 699 3000

Please try the switchboard
during business hours (7:30 am
ALA Switchboard – 4:30 pm SAST) for all general
ALA queries or to reach a
member of staff.
ALA Emergency (AOD) +27 71 858 3936
Dean’s Office:
deansoffice@africanleadershipacademy.org
General Student Enquiries
Hatim Eltayeb: +27 60 686 3129

HEltayeb@africanleadershipacademy.org
Dean of Academy (after-hour emergencies only)
Tinhiko Nkuna: +27 67 701 6714

tnkuna@africanleadershipacademy.org
Deputy Dean: Student Success (after-hours emergencies only)
Mopati Morake: mmorake@africanleadershipacademy.org +27 71 046 6638

Director of Teaching & Learning (after-hours emergencies only)
+27 71 856 6159

Along with your child’s faculty
advisor, the Head of Residence
should be your first point of
Nicole Gwindi: ngwindi@africanleadershipacademy.org contact should you have any
Head of Residence questions about arrivals and
departures, or any unique
situation that your child may
face outside the classroom,
such as family matters that
arises at home.
Mandisa Mtembu
mmtembu@africanleadershipacademy.org
Director of Student Wellbeing
3
Year Head Information
Year Heads are responsible for the overall support and success of all students in their Year Group. They work closely with
advisors, faculty and residential teams to support your child's success.
Keabetswe Marumo: Head of

kmarumo@africanleadershipacademy.org
Year 1
Maya Schkolne: Head of Year mschkolne@africanleadershipacademy.org

Two
Finance Information
The Finance Office should be contacted with any queries regarding school fees or other financial matters.
accounts@africanleadershipacademy.org
Health Information
Angelinah Mlotshwa: amlotshwa@africanleadershipacademy.org

School Matron +27 82 697 8302
(24-hour line for reaching the
School Clinic: School Nurse or the Matron)
clinic@africanleadershipacademy.org
Evelyn Chagonda: School Nurse
Student Life Information
Chomba Nakazwe:
CNakazwe@africanleadershipacademy.org
Student Life Administrator
ALA Postal Address for Student Mail ALA Physical Campus Address
Postnet Suite #413 1050 Printech Road
Private Bag X1 Laser Park
Northcliff Honeydew
Johannesburg, South Africa South Africa
2115 2040
Emergency Contacts
Nationwide Emergency Response 112 (Cellphone)
10111 (Landline)
Ambulance 082 911 or 084 124
Honeydew Police Station 011 801 8613 / 4 / 5
ALA Administrator on Duty (AOD) +27 71 858 3936
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MISSION and VALUES
Our Mission
To transform Africa into a peaceful and prosperous continent by

developing a generation of ethical and effective leaders
Our Values
Integrity
We are people of our word, with the courage to do what is right.
Curiosity
We challenge the status quo and take the initiative to pursue new ideas.
Humility
We are thankful for our opportunities and are aware of our limitations.
Compassion
We empathize with and care for those around us.
Diversity
We respect all people and believe that difference should be celebrated.
Excellence
We set high standards for our own achievement and celebrate the achievements of others.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page Number
2022 – 2023 ALA Academic Calendar 2
Quick Reference and Contact Information 3
ALA Mission and Values 5
1. Welcome to ALA 8
Introduction to this Handbook 10
What to Bring to the Academy 10
Communication with your Child or the Academy 14
Visitor Policies 16
Student Fees 17
Holiday and Travel Policy 19
Student Travel Policy 22
2. Student Life 25
ALA Values: Personal and Community Expectations 26
Weekly Timetable and Daily Life 27
Co-Curricular Activities 28
Student Government 31
Student Signout and Return Policy 32
Off-Campus Safety Guidelines 35
Security, Safety and Emergency Procedures at ALA 37
General Emergency Alert Procedures 41
3. Pastoral Care 44
House Programme 45
Spiritual Life Programme 46
Health & Wellness Services 47
Student Vaccination Policy 51
4. Discipline 52
Behavioural Expectations 53
Rewards and Sanctions Policy 54
The Disciplinary Council 56
Honour Council 60
Child Protection, Harassment, Assault and Abuse 62
Academic Integrity of Students 66
Attendance Policy 69
General Campus Rules 73
Appropriate Dressing at ALA 75
Student Relationships 78
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Ilegal Items and Behaviour 79
Technology Policy 80
5. Academic Life 84
Curriculum 85
Course Catalogue 88
Academic Integrity 88
Classroom Environment 88
Student Support Structures 89
Workload and Academic Support 91
External Opportunities (Ex-Opps) 91
Life at ALA: During and After 93
6. Residential Life 95
Residence Mission 96
Residential Goals 97
Residential Behaviour Policy 98
Residential Procedures 99
Dining Hall 105
Student Leadership in the Residence 106
Residence Facilities 108
Facilities Cleanliness and Care 109
Commitment Page (Signed by Parents & Students) 110
7. Addendums 111
Additional Security & Safety Guidelines 112
Chaperone Policy 114
Child Protection Policy 120
Drug and Substance Abuse Policy 129
Drug Testing Policy 134
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WELCOME TO
1 ALA
Getting Started
8
Dear Students, Parents & Guardians,
Greetings from Honeydew!
Congratulations once again on your admission to ALA and your decision to join our vibrant community.
You are about to embark on an exciting new chapter in your leadership journey that we hope will be
challenging, enjoyable and transformative. With each new class we admit we continue to grow as a family
and make progress in leaps and bounds towards our audacious goal of peaceful transformation for the
African continent. Like all things worth doing, this journey will be a difficult one, but fulfilling as well.
I hope you are already excited about meeting the other students that are entering the community in your
cohort. From all corners of our continent, you and your peers represent the promise, magic and potential
of Africa. As you learn to understand, admire and inspire one another in the coming year, I hope you will
also learn more about yourselves and the lives you are capable of living.
ALA is a busy and exciting place, which may be quite different from the learning environment you are
coming from. This handbook will help you prepare for your arrival and navigate the different demands
and opportunities in your new home. ALA is also a diverse place, perhaps more so than any other
community you have been a part of in the past. This handbook lays out the values, principles and
guidelines we use to govern how we live, work and play together in a respectful, productive and innovative
fashion. It is crucial for your success as an individual (and our collective success as a community) that you
take the time to read, understand and commit to the policies and procedures outlined in this handbook.
I hope that the coming year will be one of growth, learning and change for you and your peers. There will
be challenges that you struggle to overcome and obstacles that require you to adapt. I trust and believe
that as a community, we can face these challenges together and turn each one into a moment of learning,
growth and mutual discovery.
We are all excited to welcome you to your new home here in beautiful Honeydew and look forward to an
exciting and productive year ahead!
With eager regards on behalf of the Academy family,
Hatim A. Eltayeb
Dean of the Academy
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INTRODUCTION TO THIS HANDBOOK
Welcome to African Leadership Academy! This handbook contains very important and useful information
for all students, parents and guardians. For example, it contains information for parents and guardians on
how to contact the school in case of emergency. It also contains information for students about living in
dormitories, participating in sports and activities, and understanding the Academy’s expectations.
We expect that each student takes the time to read and understand the contents of this handbook with
their parent(s) or guardian(s).
Students are expected to be very familiar with the contents of this handbook by the time they arrive on
campus. All students will be provided with a copy of this book, which they will all read together in a public
forum. They will then sign a copy at the end of Orientation week to indicate that they have read and
understood its content.
Please note that edits are made to this handbook as and when required, and any such edits will be
communicated to you.
WHAT TO BRING TO THE ACADEMY
Packing List
We recommend that students bring the following items with them to school. You are advised to not bring
more than your luggage allowance, as the school will not pay for extra luggage charges. Also remember
that you may be taking even more with you on your departure than you came in with, hence the need to
leave some space in your bag!
CLOTHING
• 7–10 sets of underwear
For use with
• 7–10 pairs of dark socks
Uniform
• 1 pair black non-design school shoes (no heel)
• 1–3 sets of formal clothes AND

Formal
• 1–3 sets African/traditional wear
• Short sleeved shirts or t-shirts/tops

Casual / • Jeans or long pants
Weekend • Appropriate length shorts/skirts
Wear • Summer dresses
• Sandals or light footwear
• 2 or more sports pants/shorts
Sports
• 2 or more sports t-shirt/top
• 1 pair of trainers/sports shoes
• Sports bra
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Winter
• Set of thermal underwear and warm stockings
(Please be
• Woollen hat, gloves, scarf – school colours only permitted
sure to pack
• Very warm jacket or jersey – school colours only permitted
warm
clothing, as
Note: All accessories, e.g. headband, scarf, clothing, must be of
South African
school colours (black or maroon) if to be worn with uniform.
winters can
get very cold
OTHER ITEMS
• One (1) cell phone; should you have a phone that is locked
by your network provider, please ensure the phone is
unlocked for use with other SIM cards before arriving
• Prescription Medication (Refer to Health Services Section)
• Koran, Bible or any faith-based materials
• Photographs of family and friends
• Personal Toiletries
Personal • Alarm Clock
Belongings • Two (2) small padlocks and keys for room safety cupboard
and locker
• South African adaptor for plugs
• Personal laptop
• Headphones
• Surgical and / or cloth masks (10)
• Favourite food condiments – spices, sauces, etc.
Items provided by the Academy (i.e. what not to bring)

Students do not need to bring any of the following, which will be provided by the school:
• Calculator, compass, ruler or other learning aids
• Daily school wear (the school will provide uniforms for the school week)
• Sheets, towels, blankets and pillows.
Electronics and Personal Devices

Students are permitted to bring some personal electronic devices, though the school will not be
responsible for lost or stolen items. Students may bring their own cell phone, laptop or camera, for
example. (Students who need assistance with purchasing a laptop should refer to laptop purchase and
payment agreement documents in their admission pack).
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Computers
Students will have access to the Internet on the ALA campus and are required to have their own computer.
All students must keep careful watch over their computers, as they carry the device at their own risk!
Personal laptops should be wireless 802.1 compatible, with a contemporary operating system. ALA will
provide necessary software for its courses, including the Microsoft Office Suite.
Vehicles
Students are not permitted to keep or drive vehicles on campus.
Pets / Animals
Students are not permitted to keep or raise animals on campus for any purpose.
Safe-Keeping
To eliminate risk of loss or theft, students should not bring important valuables or jewellery to campus.
To safeguard their valuables, students are responsible for locking the doors to their rooms when they
leave.
Upon arrival at school, every student will be asked to turn in their passport to be kept in the school safe
during the year.
Money
Bank Accounts
ALA opens a bank account with Nedbank in South Africa for every student. This account can be used to
make purchases online and/or outside of campus.
ALA is a cashless campus. Upon arrival, every students will be given a “Cashless account”. This account
functions like an bank account that only works on campus. Students have cards they can use to make
purchases with on campus vendors. They can check their balances online and easily transfer funds
between this account and their South African Nedbank account.
Sending Money to and from South Africa

Parents should send pocket money for their child via direct deposit into his or her Nedbank account.
Parents can also utilize Western Union or MoneyGram. Students can send money home using these
services. Note that ALA cannot receive or send funds on behalf of studnets or families.
Bringing Cash to South Africa

Students wanting to arrive with cash should bring USD. For funds to be added to a student’s Nedbank
and/or Cashless account, these need to be converted to South African rands (ZAR). Most banks will not
convert local African currencies to ZAR.
At the start of the academic year, students arriving with cash will store it with their Hall Head until their
accounts have been set up. Once their accounts are working, Hall Heads will return the cash, and
students are responsible for depositing these funds appropriately. Hall Heads will not store cash for
longer than two weeks for students.
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Cash on Campus
ALA is a cashless campus. Between a student’s Nedbank (for off campus purchases) and Cashless
account (for on campus purchases), there is no need for a student to ever handle cash. For satefy and
security purposes, we strongly encourage students to make use of the provided banking options and
refrain from using cash. Students should never keep cash in their rooms.
Earning Funds on Campus

Basic health and hygiene essentials cost approximately R250 per month.
Our campus employment program employs approximately 110 students to perform roles like managing
the gym, interning in the CEO’s office, and assisting with events - among other things. For their services,
students are paid a stipend to cover basic living expenses. All students will have the option of applying
for jobs at the end of September. However, employment is not guaranteed.
Many students choose to start businesses on campus. Through washing cars, braiding/cutting hair,
selling snacks, and consulting, students earn pocket money while building their business experience.
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COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CHILD OR THE ACADEMY
You can reach the Academy by calling the main

switchboard number at +27 (0)11 699 3000. If you need to contact your child urgently
during class hours, contacting the school
Reception operating hours are between 07:30 am and directly, using either of the two numbers
16:30 pm (South African time). will be the most effective method:
+27 011 699 3000
A receptionist will answer your call during normal +27 071 858 3936
business hours and on non-holiday days.
TELEPHONE
In case of an after-hours emergency ONLY, you may call
the ALA Emergency phone at
+27 (0)71 858 3936.
Students will be able to make international calls on their

cell phones and a telephone phone offered by the
school.
As the South African postal system is not perfectly Address Example:

reliable, parents and guardians are encouraged where Student’s full name
possible to contact their child by e-mail or telephone. African Leadership Academy
If you do need to send postal mail, it is strongly 1050 Printech Avenue
POSTAL
recommended that you register your letter or package Honeydew 2040
MAIL
or send it by courier service (such as DHL, FedEx, or Johannesburg
UPS). South Africa
Every student is given his or her own ALA email address Email Example:
where he or she can be reached.
JSoap18@alastudents.org
All student addresses end in @alastudents.org.
EMAIL
Close contact between students and their families is With these calls in place, the necessary
important and we encourage regular communication. support systems can be put in place to
help your child. Please remember that
It is most essential that any particularly bad or sad news keeping information from your child is
is communicated first to the Deputy Dean, Ms Tinhiko very difficult with today’s social
SENDING
Nkuna (+27 67 701 6714) or Head of Residence, Ms networking media and often students
NEWS
Nicole Gwindi (+27 71 856 6159). learn about news via Facebook or friends.
FROM The Academy has a strong support system
HOME It is also worthwhile to contact the student’s faculty ready in place to help with all these
advisor via email. matters.
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The Dean’s Office will periodically send parents and The Academy will also send academic and
guardians Academic and Student Life updates. leadership reports home to parents and
guardians at the mid-term and end of
term, including grades and comments
from subject teachers and the student’s
faculty advisor.
REPORTS &
DATES All students will receive 5 reports for the
FROM ALA academic year.
The Student Life Office is open from Monday to Friday It is also important that you notify the
for communication and information and is your first Academy of any changes in your contact
port of call with any questions or requests. You can information immediately so that we have
contact the Student Life Administrator via the AOD your correct email and phone contacts at
contact number (+27 71 858 3936) or via email all times.
cnakazwe@africanleadershipacademy.org /
NEED deansoffice@africanleadershipacademy.org
INFO?
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VISITOR POLICIES
Parents and Guardians

The Academy warmly welcomes parents and guardians to visit its campus during the school year.
Parents and guardians are asked to notify the Deputy Dean and Student Life office 48 hours in advance of
any visit in a written communication by email. Upon arrival, parents and guardians will be asked to sign
in with security and the receptionist.
If visiting during class hours, parents and guardians may not remove their child from class but may sit in
on a class with their child. Parents who want to visit during the week are encouraged to come in after
lunch in order to avoid distracting the child from concentrating in class for too long (refer to our typical
day time table for guidance as to lunch time).
If parents or guardians would like to leave campus with a student, they must abide by the general campus
leave requirements. While the Academy appreciates the value of building healthy family and social
relationships, unnecessary visits by siblings and boyfriends/girlfriends are not encouraged.
General Visitors
The Academy welcomes friends and family of ALA students who may visit campus throughout the school
year. In the interest of ensuring campus security and the safety of our students, all visitors must obtain
approval from the Deputy Dean at least 48 hours in advance of visiting.
An e-mailed communication from the student’s parent or guardian will be required for the Deputy Dean’s
approval if the visitor is not a family member or not on the initial list of approved visitors. You can also
expect a call from the Student Life Office to confirm that such a request was sent by you.
Weekends Off
We encourage students to be fully involved in all campus activities every day. The activities that take place
outside classroom provide great learning and leadership opportunities for students. However, students
are allowed to spend time off with parents/guardians from time to time. Where a host is not on the
students’ original list sent by his/her parents, ALA will require evidence of communication between the
parents and the potential hosts. Telephone calls may also be initiated by the Student Life office before
endorsing the student’s exit from campus.
Chaperoning Students
For security purposes, in addition to pre-authorisation by parents, any non-ALA staffulty appointed to
chaperone a student is required to submit a copy of his/her identification paper at the gate. Without it,
the student will not be allowed to exit the campus.
16
STUDENT FEES
Expectations for Fee Payment
ALA is committed to ensuring equal access to the diploma program regardless of any families prevailing
financial status. This commitment is enabled by generous philanthropic support which ALA considers an
investment in the potential of young Africans. In order to protect this commitment and the access which
it enables, ALA prioritizes the responsible stewardship of resources.
Every ALA student is assessed a fee according to the fee structure received and agreed in the covenant
document prior to the student’s enrolment at ALA. This document is signed by the Academy, the student,
and the students’ parent or guardian in advance of the student’s arrival on campus as a year one student.
It is expected that fees be paid on time according to the timeline laid out in the covenant document, and
as invoiced.
Because the Academy takes the fee agreement seriously, an overdue fee balance may result in:
• Withholding of grades and comments in each reporting cycle.
• The accrual of interest on any outstanding balance older than 1 month.
• Suspension of school services such as University Guidance and External Opportunities.
• Removal of student from the program.
• Withholding of Diploma, Transcripts and all official school documents.
Please ensure that all fees are paid promptly and in full. The table below outlines in more detail what
action unmitigated balances will entail:
Term 1 (Sept – Dec) Term 2 (Jan –March) Term 3 (April –June)

Year 1 Payment Due: Payment Due: Payment Due:
August 15th December 15th May 15th
Withholding of reports
Repercussions for Removal of student from
Withholding of reports Withholding of school services
Non-payment the programme
(University Guidance, External
Opportunities)
Year 2 Payment Due: Payment Due: Payment Due:
August 15th December 15th May 15th
If total balance outstanding
If total balance outstanding is less is less than 1 term’s fees,
If total balance outstanding is less
than 1 term’s fees, withholding of student will not receive a
than 1 term’s fees, withholding of
services and reports. diploma.
services and reports.
Repercussions for
Non-payment If total balance outstanding is 1 If total balance outstanding
If total balance outstanding is 1
term’s fees or more; student will be is 1 term’s fees or more,
term’s fees or more, student will
removed from the programme. student will not be
be removed from the program.
permitted to graduate nor
receive a diploma.
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Deposit for Incidental funds
An additional $200 deposit will be requested each year, from which ALA will debit expenses
incurred by students, e.g. for replacement of room keys, ID cards, or examination fees. A
detailed reconciliation will be provided, and any unused funds will be returned by the
Academy to the student upon the student’s graduation.
Applying for Financial Assistance

In exceptional situations in which financial circumstances change dramatically for a family
– such as the death of the family’s primary breadwinner – a student may apply for Hardship
financial assistance. However, an application for further financial assistance is not a
guarantee that such assistance will be provided. Such applications will only be considered
in the period between Year 1 and Year 2. For further instructions please write to
admissions@africanleadershipacademy.org
Fundraising
ALA does not officially endorse any fundraisers for student fees. Any stakeholder
fundraisers of this nature should not use official ALA channels or branding in a manner that
might imply (even indirectly) a formal institutional endorsement. Furthermore, any
unofficial fundraiser conducted by students, alumni, staffulty or parents should
prominently display the following language: This is an unofficial fundraiser that is not
endorsed, managed or overseen by African Leadership Academy.
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HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL POLICY
Expectation for Parents on the Academy’s Travel Plan and Policy

It is very important that the Academy have accurate and timely travel information for all students to
ensure safe travel to and from campus.
Travel Dates
Parents are expected to provide the Student Life Office with the travel dates for their children for the
December and June holidays no later than 15th September. This information will be used by the Student
Life team to organise airport and bus stations drop-offs for your son or daughter. Please note that the
cost of airport drop off and pickup for the December holiday will be borne by parents. For help with
transportation questions, please contact Ms Chomba Nakazwe in the Student Life Office at +27 71 856
6159 or cnakazwe@africanleadershipacademy.org
Special Requests
Please note that all students are expected to be in school until the last day of each term. Students who
wish to travel on the last day of term are free to leave campus only after 17:00 pm.
For special circumstances and at the discretion of the Deputy Dean, a student may be permitted to leave
campus before the last day of term. Parents requiring a special pass for their child to leave campus early
must send a written request to the Deputy Dean (deansoffice@africanleadershipacademy.org /
tnknuna@africanleadershipacademy.org ) at least 2 weeks in advance.
Please note that students will not be granted a special pass because of a pre-
booked flight as this does not constitute a special circumstance.
Academy Closure during Holidays

The Academy shuts down completely for the December holiday and all students are required to leave
campus. Even though there is on-campus programming from June – August, all Students are still expected
to leave campus for the June break. Financial assistance may be provided for those who need it, but this
will be based on the students’ financial profile at ALA.
Students are allowed to remain on campus during the Easter holiday (End of Term 2 Break), as it is a short
break. Students wishing to travel away from campus during this break should see the Student Life
Administrator and complete the necessary documentation before 28th February.
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Please note that the Academy will cover airport and bus station drop-offs and pick-ups ONLY in September
and June. All other travel costs and logistics are to be borne by the parent. For further information, please
see the Student Travel policy.
Important: Long weekends and mid-term breaks are not considered holidays. Our longer holiday breaks
occur in March, June and December of each academic year.
Unchaperoned Trips during School Holidays (excluding Mid-term breaks and Long Weekends)
Students who want to travel off campus to places other than their homes must make all arrangements in
conjunction with their parents/guardians.
As the academy expects all students to spend time in their countries of origin during the June and
December school holidays, if there is reason to deviate from this expectation, the parents or guardians of
the student must communicate the alternate plan with the Deans Office.
The Student Life Department, with students’ parents or guardians, will review student holiday plans taking
into consideration aspects such as the nature of supervision, activities planned, and other factors related
to the safety of the student.
Information about the family- nominated chaperone or results from the risk assessment process, where
no chaperone is accompanying the students, must be submitted to the Student Life Office, along with
acknowledgement from parents or guardians that they are aware of the risks associated with the trip.
All arrangements of this nature require written permission originating from parents or guardians to the
Academy, acknowledging that the student is not under the Academy’s care during this time. Written
permission can be sent via email and parents can expect to receive a phone call from the Student Life
office to confirm that permission has been granted. Where necessary, a risk assessment form will be
emailed to parents to endorse and scanned back to the Academy. The costs associated with such travels
are the sole responsibility of the student. If students need any assistance with arranging such
transportation, they must see the Student Life Administrator at least 4 weeks before the planned
departure date. Apart from exceptional cases vetted using the process above, unchaperoned requests
will only be approved during or for the March Break.
Additionally, at no time during the school year-calendar will students be granted permission by the
Academy to sign out unchaperoned or with a family- nominated chaperone for a night, weekend, mid-
term or any school break away to any Airbnb, guest house or lodging that is for commercial purposes.
Such requests will not be granted nor approved any time in the year except for during the March break
holiday.
Only in cases where the reason for the trip is exceptional will students be permitted to go to an Airbnb,
guest house or lodging that is for commercial purposes for a weekend or night away during the term or
during the mid-term and shorter breaks. Exceptional cases are to be categorised as such and approved
by the Deans Office.
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Departure and Return
Students must depart campus no later than 48 hours after 17:00 pm pm on the last day of term and must
return to campus by 17:00 pm on the day before classes resume.
Missed Work/Assignments
Students leaving school based on a special request are responsible for all missed work. Such students
must obtain approvals (online or on paper) from their Year Head. Parents’ or guardians’ permission is
required for all special requests.
Listed below are descriptions of the different forms that students must complete when leaving campus:
Type of Form Description

Students are required to complete the Exit/Sign-
out form by 17:00 pm at least 48 hours before
their departure date from the Academy.
Exit / Sign Out Form If the departure falls on a weekend, the form must
have been completed and endorsed by the
Student Life Administrator by Thursday of that
week.
Every student must complete a travel plan form

Vacation Travel Forms
before any vacation travel.
This form is available in the Student Life Office and

must be completed three days in advance of
departure.
Class Absence Form
No student will be granted a special request to
miss class without the approval of the Deputy
Dean and Year Head.
Grounds for obtaining leave from classes for out-of-school events
Students typically request to sign out from campus, and from formal classes, for one of four reasons:
• External opportunities (ExOpps) which are events officially sanctioned by the Academy.
• University admissions/enrolment-related visits, often processed in conjunction with the
University Guidance (UG) Office
• Personal or family-related events that may require travelling
• Early departure from campus at the end of term, based on special circumstances.
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STUDENT TRAVEL POLICY
In order to develop the next generation of African leaders, ALA admits students from different parts of
the world. This means that many of our students are not from South Africa, necessitating the need for
them to travel to and back from school either by air or by road. This happens at the beginning and the
end of the school term or to attend various learning opportunities for them as part of their leadership
journey. In order to ensure safety, comfort and hitch free journeys, transportation arrangements which
are guided by this policy are put in place for them.
Period ALA Policy
As part of ensuring that students arrive on campus

without stress, especially new students at the
Beginning of the Year (September) beginning of the year, ALA arranges for all
students to be picked up from the airport or bus
station at no financial cost to either the parents or
the students.
ALA arranges for all students to be dropped off

either at the airport or bus station at no financial
cost to the parents. All students are mandated to
End of Year (June) travel back to their countries of origin, unless, with
consultation with the Deans Office, a student is
permitted to stay in South Africa in the care and
supervision of a family- nominated chaperone or
host.
ALA makes all the necessary transportation

arrangement for the students at no financial cost
to the parents.
As a safety measure, the school driver or any other

driver appointed by the school are the ones
responsible for picking up or dropping off students
at the airport or bus station.
External Opportunities
For unchaperoned travel, we neither authorise
nor use non-school appointed transportation
services (e.g., Bolt, Uber) etc.
To ensure that a student who is travelling by air

un-chaperoned is safe, a Staffulty member or ALA
driver** is required to remain with the student
until he has gone through the security gate before
leaving the airport.
22
Students are expected to make their own
transportation arrangement at this time.
However, ALA can arrange airport and bus station
shuttle transportation for students at a cost to be
determined by the Procurement Department
based on size of vehicle, number of passengers
and prevailing cost of hiring such vehicles as may
be needed to transport the students.
To enjoy this service, interested students must

Other Times (December and March Holiday and
notify the Student Life Administrator of their
other term breaks)
departure and return dates no later than two
weeks before their intended travel date.
The Student Life Department will then provide

them with the necessary payment information.
The Student Life Department will not be able to
assist students who do not comply with this
guideline. Such students will have to make
arrangements for their own transportation as last-
minute request cannot be entertained for safety
and logistic reasons.
** ALA driver – individuals employed by ALA in full capacity as school drivers OR private individuals with
their own vehicles who are engaged by the Procurement Department to drive students when the school
vehicles and/or driver is not available. (For safety and security reasons, it is required that background
checks are run on private individuals who act as ALA drivers by the Procurement Department.)
23
Personal / Family-Related Events
The Academy’s leave policies are generally geared towards ensuring that
students suffer minimum disruption from external events unrelated to the
curriculum or the wider academic programme. Students and their families
should appreciate that, over and above the formal classroom engagement, a
significant component of leadership development programming happens within
the framework of day-to-day student life, represented by sports programmes,
engagement with clubs and societies, various student-led activities, house
events and competitions, organized off-campus trips and general student-life
programmes. As a result, the educational process is not limited to formal
classroom activity alone. It is also important to note the difficulty of replicating
these experiences once missed.
Frequent departures from campus for personal or family-related reasons, not

only deprive students of crucial class time, but also place significant pressure on
them when they return as they must catch up with all the academic work they
have missed.
The Student Life Department, in consultation with the Deans Office reviews exits
information at intervals and shares recommendations to parents for their child
to minimize exits if there is a concern on the frequency and type of exits applied
for. This is because ALA is a residential institution which prides itself in offering
educational enrichment, learning and community-building opportunities outside
the classroom and during times when students are not in classes. It is within this
context that the academy largely discourages frequent requests.
Guidelines for Endorsing Personal/Family-Related Exit Requests

Leave requests are likely to be considered only for very close family
occasions, e.g., a parent’s bereavement anniversary, a first family
wedding, an important family ceremonial observation, the passing away
of a member of the nuclear family.
Proactivity around informing ALA of the planned event is crucial; the

earlier information comes through to the Academy, the better it is to
enable adequate planning for coverage for time off campus.
There should be a detailed description of the activity/event for which

permission is being sought. Vague emails that simply request the release
of a student will in all likelihood not receive a positive response. It is
important to provide both a clear description of the event as well as a
motivation for the student’s participation.
The prior history of personal/family leave is taken into consideration. In

the course of a year a student may not take leave of school for
24 personal/family events more than twice, except under extraordinary
circumstances such as the passing away of an immediate family member.
STUDENT
2 LIFE
Living the ALA Values
25
ALA VALUES: PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS
African Leadership Academy seeks to cultivate in students the skills necessary for ethical and effective
leadership, the knowledge required to make informed decisions, and the courage to take calculated risks
and pioneer new ideas. During their time at the Academy, students will come to realize both great
frustrations and great rewards in pursuing this path of growth. The Academy seeks to develop each
student as his or her own person, guided by an internal moral compass that has been tested and
strengthened by the small actions, endeavours and decisions that shape them each and every day. In all
aspects of life at the Academy and beyond, we expect students to abide by our six values.
Integrity Compassion
We are people of our We empathize with
word, with the courage and care for those
to do around us.
what is right.
Curiosity Diversity
We challenge the status We respect all people
quo and take the initiative and believe that differences
to pursue new ideas should be celebrated.
Humility Excellence
We are thankful for our We set high standards for our
opportunities and own achievement
are aware and celebrate the
of our limitations achievements of others
26
WEEKLY TIMETABLE AND DAILY LIFE
The below is a schematic model of the timetable, with some variation from week to week. A more detailed
version will be distributed during orientation. Your individual schedule may differ depending on the
courses, sports and extracurricular activities you choose to participate in.
A Typical Week at ALA

There is no such thing as a typical week at ALA. Each new week may bring an exciting guest speaker, a
seminar, an organized dinner with a mentor, or the launch of a new student organization. While the
schedule above illustrates what a week at ALA may look like, our schedule will be frequently adapted to
accommodate special events taking place on campus.
There will, of course, be some standard features in the schedule. In general, students will have six days
per week of curricular programming.
• Mondays through to Saturdays have block-scheduled academic courses and student activities of
varying length.
• Tuesday and Thursday afternoons are focused on our programmes in Entrepreneurial Leadership
Wellness or University Guidance.
• In the afternoons and evenings, students participate in a wide range of activities including sports,
clubs, guest speakers, and mentorship meetings.
Late Night Programming

Programming during long weekends may not run beyond 10:30 pm. Should students wish to participate
in an activity or hold an event in any common area beyond the normal check-in time, at least two
residential faculty members must consent to chaperone them throughout the programme (however,
residential faculty members are not under any obligation to attend any programme that ends after normal
check-in time).
27
Permission for such programming must be sought and obtained from the Deputy Dean and the Head of
Residence at least 2 working days in advance of the activity.
Gatherings: Assembly, Dean’s talk, and Distinguished Guest Speakers

Each week, the entire ALA community (students, staff and faculty) will convene for all-school assemblies
and community meetings; important times in the week when the Dean and students share important
news for the coming week (such as the announcement of a new student initiative or the introduction of
an Expert-in-Residence who has arrived on campus).
Every other Saturday i.e. Saturday B begins with a Dean’s Talk, in which students engage directly with
Academy Leadership. We also seek to regularly bring a Distinguished Guest Speaker to campus to share
their experiences of leadership with our students. Every student is expected to attend each Assembly,
Guest Speaker, or Dean’s Talk session, arriving on time to their appropriate seat in the auditorium and
dressed appropriately. Students must be in full school uniform attire unless otherwise directed.
Meals at ALA
ALA provides three meals and three snacks each day in the school dining hall. Students are expected to
be present in the dining hall for all three meal periods. Breakfast offers students the opportunity to start
the day together and with an appropriate level of energy, ensuring they are awake when classes begin.
Students are therefore strongly encouraged to start the day with breakfast.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Clubs and Societies

At the Academy, students are entrepreneurs; they are also leaders. Co-curricular activities at ALA are thus
created as a result of student initiative, crafted in response to student interest, and funded by a budget
from the Student Government. As students’ interests change from year to year, we anticipate the set of
activities and organizations on campus will evolve over time with the retirement of some activities and
the addition of others.
Students are encouraged and expected to design and initiate co-curricular activities that enable them to
pursue their interests outside of school. They are also welcome to approach other student groups of
similar mission or scope to propose partnerships, expansions or modifications. The Academy interprets
“co-curricular activities” broadly: these may include anything from clubs to student-initiated seminars to
fundraisers for a cause. As far as the Academy is concerned, the co-curricular activities on offer will be
limited only by the imagination of the student body and the broad internal guidelines provided around
such activities.
The Academy welcomes any and all exciting ideas students may have for new organizations, so long as
they are not perceived to be insensitive or offensive to other members of the ALA community. The
process for proposing a new student group, club or activity will be introduced and reviewed with students
by the Student Life office and the representative of the Student Government’s clubs and societies.
ALL students are required to belong to at least one club or society.
28
Sports
ALA believes that physical fitness is an integral part of healthy living and recognizes that important lessons
about effort, teamwork, competition, leadership, and fairness can be learned through engagement in
sporting activities. Our coaches are therefore dedicated to the moral and personal development of their
players. We seek to develop a strong sense of responsibility to oneself and one’s team and a lasting
commitment to good sportsmanship.
The sports programme consists of two major components i.e. recreational events and competitive events.
Every student is required to participate in at least one of these components per term.
Recreational Events Competitive Events

Description
These consist of sporting events where teams are ALA teams compete against other schools in
formed among members of the ALA community. friendly matches. Teams for both boys and girls
are formed in Basketball, Volleyball, Football,
There are four main recreational events: Tennis and Netball.
Internal League: Members of the community Teams typically practise three days a week
(staff and students) sign up for a draft in order to (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), but could use
be selected into a team captained by a second- other days depending on availability of fields and
year student. Teams compete with one another in courts.
Term 1 in a round robin and playoff format for the
Cup. Students are encouraged to come with personal
items like swimming costume, shin protectors and
Hall Cup: An annual sports competition between other safety devices that will enable them to
residential halls in the third term. engage happily in their activities of choice.
Staffulty Challenge: A series of sporting

challenges to a section of the student body by the
staffulty as graduation approaches.
Year 1 vs. Year 2 Matches: Year 2 students

challenge Year 1 students to a series of matches in
different sports.
When are these events held
Primarily in the First term (September – Primarily in the second term (January – March) of
December) and Third term (April – June) each year
Objective
29
Each of these internal recreational events is The competitive programme is designed for
designed to encourage maximum participation students to further develop their skills in a certain
from students and staff alike. Through it, sport of their choice and engage in healthy
community members create new friendships competitions with other schools. To participate in
within their teams and challenge one another to the competitive programme, students must
stay physically active. maintain academic and disciplinary standards.
Which Sport activities can I participate in?
The sports involved in these competitions include Competitive teams for both boys and girls are
Basketball, Football, Volleyball and Tennis. formed in Basketball, Volleyball, Football, Tennis
and Netball.
Responsibilities of Members of Travelling Clubs and Teams
Students are expected to assume the following responsibilities when they join a team (also see
Attendance Policy):
Communication with Teachers

Academic Studies
Notifying and making arrangements
Submitting ALL assignments on with individual teachers in advance to make up
time due during an anticipated and excused homework, tests, quizzes and exams.
absence from class.
Sports Equipment Sportsmanship
Ensure responsibility for the Exercise good sportsmanship both

equipment issued to them inside and outside the competition;
by the school. If equipment they will treat both their teammates and opponents
is returned damaged or late, coaches will refer with due respect and courtesy at all times.
students to the Head of Residence for
appropriate disciplinary action. The student will
be billed for the replacement costs.
Follow the Rules Commit
Respect the decisions made by Once a student has decided to join a

the presiding official. team, attendance at practices is
mandatory unless otherwise excused by the coach
or school nurse.
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Within Student Government, students have the opportunity to demonstrate leadership potential and
establish meaningful connections with the greater ALA community. By participating in Student
Government, ALA strives to develop a strong sense of responsibility within each student to ensure they
empower each other and bring about transformative change.
Role of the ALA Student Government:

Students elected into the ALA Student Government perform three key roles:
Motivate students to uphold the student’s culture, encourage and generate communication
between the student body, the Academy’s leadership and the ALA community and to serve
students of the Academy in their best interest.
Consolidate feedback on various aspects of the school through organizing school-wide feedback
sessions or systems that ensure each student’s voice is heard.
Advocate on behalf of students to the administration through student representation on

various committees and/or policy-making forums. This representation will be upon request
from the administration and/or upon request from the Student Government to be included in
such forums.
Elections Process:
ALA’s Student Body will elect a government twice each year.
All students registered in the current year of the Academy may run for office in the government. The
elections will be organized by the Elections Supervisory Committee (ESC) - an independent group with one
member each elected from each House. No member of the ESC may sit in the current government.
31
STUDENT SIGNOUT & RETURN POLICY
ALA places premium on students’ safety and security. This is salient in view of the fact that parents have
entrusted them into our care, therefore every effort must be made to ensure that they are safe. Ensuring
their safety involves, among other things, putting measures in place and setting boundaries which they
must stay within to make the task of protecting them possible.
Requirements and General Principles
The Student Life Department in conjuction with the Deans Office assesses and approved all off- campus
exit requests from the Student Community. It is therefore not automatic that if a student applies for an
off- campus sign out form that they will be granted the permission to leave campus.
At any time when a student leaves campus for any period of time a sign out process must be completed.
This is done using the online platform or completing a paper form at the Student Life office (if there is any
problem with the online platform) in case of an unexpected need to go out of campus.
Process
• Students complete sign out request form online at least 48 hours in advance of outing.
• As part of the sign out, the student must include a chaperone for the trip. A chaperone can either
be a faculty member or a student life chaperone if it’s a day trip OR a parent/ guardian or a family
nominated chaperone
• If the trip is either Saturday or Sunday, permission must be requested not later than 12:00 midday
on Thursday. Students are required to check if their sign-out has been approved by 13:00 pm on
Fridays and then proceed to the Security Manager’s office for the final endorsement of the outing.
• All sign outs are to be filled in correctly including: a full destination address, contact number of
the student, name and contact of the chaperone, date and time of departure and return.
• All sign outs must have the endorsement of Student Life and Security offices.
• If running late, student must contact the Security Office and the AOD to inform them of the
situation and possible time of return. Late return to campus might result in a disciplinary action.
• In the event a student would like to request the services of a student life chaperone for a trip that
is not school- related, the use of this chaperone will attract a small fee. These fees are available
from the Student Life Office and are payable at the Finance Office prior to the use of the service.
• In most cases, the school allows for students to book transport for local travel free of charge.
However, in some cases, where the student is travelling for non- school related purposes, as well
as during the March break, the use of the school transport service will attract a small fee. These
fees are available from the Student Life Office and are payable at the Finance Office prior to the
use of the service.
32
Responsibilities of the Security Office
• Security officers are responsible for verifying that all information on the sign out sheet is accurate
at the point of departure including verification of identity of the chaperone.
• If a student is late 5 minutes or more, security officers are to contact the student, determine the
reasons for the delay and report new expected arrival time to the AOD and Security Manager. If
the officer is unable to reach the student, the AOD and the Security Manager must be notified.
• If students arrive on campus between 23:00 pm and 05:00 am, the security office must inform the
AOD and Security Manager immediately. The student should only be allowed into the dormitory
building after the AOD (or appropriate Residential Faculty member) has received the student in
person.
• Where a student is using a paper sign out form, such a form must be signed by the Student Life
Administrator, any of the Deans or the AOD on duty. No other signatures should be honoured.
• Any alteration on the sign out form renders the form invalid.
Parent Approval & Campus Leave

Students can leave campus for a weekend with a parent/guardian, teacher or
mentor with advance approval. However, all overnight stays involving other
students should involve students of the same gender. Family friends wishing
to take a student off campus must be pre-approved by the student’s parent
or guardian. Parents should prepare a list before the student’s arrival of
acceptable friends or family members who live in South Africa and who are
approved to take their child off campus. If a proposed chaperone is not on
the approved list, parents will need to send confirmation for this chaperone
48 hours in advance of the visit. A form has been provided in your
admissions pack to this effect (for security and ethical reasons, all chaperones
must be at least 21 years old).
In all cases, such a chaperone will be requested to submit a copy of his/her ID

card or Driver’s Licence before being allowed to take a student off campus.
For safety and security reasons, parents should please note that students are
not allowed to use the Uber (or other ride-hailing technology) mode of
transport un-chaperoned. A chaperone is expected to be in the vehicle when
the student leaves campus.
33
Closed Weekends & Process to Seek Approval
There are key dates and weekends where programming and events that take place during for
the purposes of learning, community building and advancing the school’s priorities and
objectives. This kind of programming forms the fabric of the School, and is deemed to take
place with all students present.
On such occasions and weekends, the Deans Office advises the Student Life department that
all Students should stay on campus, unless there are exceptional motivating circumstances
that demand for a student to be off campus. Such days and weekends include, but are not
limited to the start of term, the end of term, study breaks, the days when all community events
are taking place and any other weekends deemed closed by the Deans Office.
During such days and weekends, only parents can only seek approval for students to exit from
the Dean of the Academy, after stipulating exceptional cases to be granted leave.
Student Government Mall Trip

To join Student Government-organized excursions to nearby shopping malls (e.g.
Northgate mall and Clearwater mall), students must:
• Sign up before the designated deadline
• Sign up with a buddy
• Provide a contact telephone number
• State clearly chosen departure and return time
• Take the risk-assessment quiz to prepare for any risks.
These mall trips are offered every 4–6 weeks and provide students with easy
access to shopping, movies, hairdressers, and banking facilities. Students are not
permitted to sign up and not go or stay at the mall after the last bus departs for
campus. Should they do so, they will be subject to disciplinary action.
34
OFF-CAMPUS SAFETY GUIDELINES
Do not travel alone—always have an ALA companion/buddy

Students should never be alone when travelling or off campus. They should remain
in a group of two (2) or more. If students separate from their group, they will be
subject to disciplinary action.
Define a Meeting Place

On off-campus trips, you will make an agreement with the driver and/or chaperone
regarding the meeting location and time before you disperse. You must be on time
or risk losing off-campus privileges.
Ensure you have the following:

• Your cell phone and your companions’ phone numbers
• A copy of your passport but not your actual passport
• Do not, where possible, carry large amounts of cash with you. However,
in case of emergency, some nominal cash may be needed for calling
cards, phone credit and other services that may only take cash.
• Your regular medication: if you take daily medication or may require
allergy or other medication (e.g., an inhaler), bring your medication with
you, just in case you need it.
• Your ALA ID and emergency contact numbers.
Remember: No valuables or original Identity documents are to be taken with

you.
ATM Vigilance
Never use an ATM alone. Always go to the ATM in a group of 3 or more. If anyone
approaches you at the ATM, cancel the transaction immediately and move away
from the ATM towards your group.
Stranger Danger!
Do not engage in a conversation with a stranger. Always refer the individual to the
staff member in charge. If a stranger approaches you, move immediately to your
group.
35
Stay within the Chosen areas
The Academy trusts that students behaving responsibly will be safe within the mall
or approved zones when off campus. Students who disregard these zones are
clearly violating the campus leave policy and risk their own safety and the safety
of others. Unauthorized exploration outside of the safe zones is grounds for
disciplinary action.
Be Discreet and Inconspicuous

Students should not actively position themselves as soft targets for danger or
crime. Always stay vigilant and do not walk while typing on your phone.
Do not carry or wear valuables (e.g. cash, expensive-looking jewellery, electronic
devices) if it can be avoided. Ensure that any valuables on your person are not
visible to others. Do not leave your bags and belongings unattended. Exercise
common sense and do not make yourself conspicuous by dress, speech or
behaviour.
Never Catch a Ride

Students are only permitted to travel in approved ALA motor vehicles. Riding in
Uber, taxis, buses or any unauthorized vehicle is prohibited. Instances of
hitchhiking or riding in an unauthorized vehicle are grounds for disciplinary action.
Exceptions
The above policies regarding campus leave may not apply in the case of an unforeseen
medical, family or other emergency.
These exceptional situations will be referred to and handled by the Dean or Deputy
Dean.
36
SECURITY, SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AT ALA
ALA has guidelines in place for all on-campus and off-campus emergency situations. These guidelines are
in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations (85 of 1993). Adherence to
these guidelines will ensure the safety for the entire ALA Community.
As an ALA student, you are not allowed to engage in any activity that can cause you harm of any kind
without first seeking approval from the safety officer.
All emergency contact details are listed below:
EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS
Security Office +27 (011) 699 3030 /

+27 (060) 518 9446
ALA Emergency / Administrator on Duty +27 (071) 858 3936
Head of Security: Mr Peter Van Niekerk +27 (060) 518 9446
24/7 Security systems office number

+27 (011) 444 2239
(Extreme Emergencies only)
Always Remember:
If you see something – Say Something.
37
Security Systems on Campus
The ALA campus currently has the following security systems in place:
Type of System Reason for System What you need to know
The Alarm will be activated by the

To ensure that any and all possible detection system or by depressing
fires are detected before becoming the red break glass boxes. During a
Fire Detection System
a life-threatening event and to fire alarm the S.E.R.T take
and alarm
ensure timely evacuation of a responsibility and control of the
building. evacuation of the dormitory
building.
The alarm is activated by pressing

the red panic alarm button in each
To ensure the safety of all on hall. The campus must lockdown.
Panic Alarm campus should there be an S.E.R.T members will again take
intruder detected on campus. control of the dormitory building
ensuring everyone in their hall has
locked down.
Students must bear in mind that

there is CCTV surveillance of their
Ensures an accurate historical
halls when they are moving through
CCTV record of movement in the halls for
their halls. Students are therefore
investigative purposes.
asked to take care in their dress
code and behaviour.
Students are to ensure proper use of

biometric access system and to
report immediately any and all
Biometric Access Control Ensures no unauthorised access to
problems encountered with the
System the dormitory building.
system. Students are not to press
green break glass box when there is
no emergency.
Tampering of any security systems including the red and green boxes, panic alarm button,
CCTV system etc. will lead to disciplinary action.
38
On-Campus Procedures
General Guidelines
All ALA employees and students should maintain a high level of awareness at all
times. Any anomalies should immediately be reported (see reporting guidelines
below). Anomalies include but are not limited to:
• Guests who cannot articulate their reason for being on campus

• Unattended suspicious parcels or bags
• Open doors that should be locked
• Any unsupervised guest in the dormitory building
• Any persons loitering near the perimeter fence
• Open fire doors.
All entrances to the Dormitory building must remain closed at all times. Any
student seeing an immediate threat to the safety of the campus should follow the
emergency alert procedures outlined below.
On-Campus Safety and Security Guidelines

• Always exercise good judgment with people not affiliated with the
Academy. Students should exercise caution with new acquaintances
not affiliated with the Academy. Students should not share phone
numbers, addresses, information about other students, or
information about school events with people they do not know well
or trust.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Report any suspicious
activity or people you observe to staff immediately.
• Always lock your door when leaving your dorm room for the day.
• Never lock your dorm room when you are inside for prep or during the
night so that you can evacuate in a fire or emergency.
• Always lock your valuables in your cupboard.
• Never light an open flame of any kind in a school building, for any
reason.
• Do not leave your belongings unattended.
• Remain in designated areas at all times, per Academy policy.
39
Within our residential environment, we request that you be diligent and proactive
in taking care and protecting your personal belongings:
• Each student is issued with a key to your room, please make sure you keep
your door locked at all times.
• You have been issued with a cashless card to use on campus and a
Standard Bank account with a debit card to use off campus and therefore
you do not, and should not keep any cash in your room.
Protect Yourself
Please do not enter a fellow student’s room if that student is not present in the
room. If you are seen entering a room that is not yours while no one is present
in the room, you will be seen as a suspect if anything goes missing during this
time.
After-Hours Procedures
All students must follow the correct check-in procedures. Both ALA employees
and students should be aware of guests staying on campus; any unknown
persons on campus after hours should be immediately reported following
reporting guidelines.
Reporting Guidelines after Hours: In the event of an EMERGENCY please notify

your hall head FIRST.
Reporting Security Breaches

Every member of the ALA community is a part of the security team. Everyone should
know the procedures and take responsibility for the security of the campus. In order
for security staff to give information or query a matter, all queries must be sent in
writing to security@africanleadershipacademy.org
For facilities and maintenance-related matters, an email should be sent to
facilities@africanleadershipacademy.org
All suspicious activities and anomalies must be reported by any student or ALA
employee to the first available security officer. Please note that there is always a
security officer at the main entrance to the dormitory building. Any cases of theft
must be reported in writing to security@africanleadershipacademy.org. The
Security Manager will respond to this within 48 hours. If you do not receive a
response within 48 hours, please forward your report to the Head of Residence
(ngwindi@africanleadershipacademy.org) and Deputy Dean
40 (tnkuna@africanleadershipacademy.org)
General Emergency Alert Procedures
In the case of immediate and significant danger to the campus, the alarm is sounded to alert the
community. Emergencies are divided into two distinct categories:
• Emergencies that require campus lock-down (intermittent alarm)
• Emergencies that require campus evacuation (solid alarm)
Lock-Down Emergency
To sound the alarm in the case of a lock-down emergency, follow whichever one of these
procedures is the least dangerous at the time of the emergency:
• Find the nearest RED panic button installed throughout the dormitory and press the
red button, this will activate the “lock down alarm”
• If your life is under immediate threat and you are able to access a cell phone, please
send a text message “HELP” to Peter van Niekerk by phone text (+27 60 518 9446) or
dial +2711 699 3030 or extension 3030 or 071 257 8768.
• Lock-down emergencies include, but are not limited to, any intruder on the campus.
Lock-Down Procedures
Lock-down emergencies
In the event include,
of a lock-down but are not
emergency, thelimited to, anyalarm
intermittent intruder
will on the throughout
sound campus. the
campus. This is a siren that sounds like a police siren. On hearing the alarm, all students
and ALA employees must proceed to the nearest area of safety and lock or barricade
themselves in.
You should take the following precautions:

• If you are in a classroom, remain there and lock/barricade the door.
• One person in the classroom should check the hallways for any students and bring
them into the classroom before locking the door.
• If you are in the dormitories, remain in your room and lock the door. Do not enter
the hallways.
• If you are in a bathroom, remain there. Do not enter the hallways.
• If you are in the hallways, proceed to the nearest room and lock the door.
• If you are outside, proceed to the nearest building and lock yourself in.
• If you are in an open or exposed building (e.g. the dining hall), proceed to the
back or to a more sealed or enclosed area.
• Urgent: Do not go outside.
• Remain locked in until you receive notification that the threat has passed.
• Notification will be in the form of a code word
Important: Once the lock-down has ended, proceed to the assembly points for roll call.
emergencies include, but are not limited to, any intruder on the cam
41
Evacuation Emergency
The evacuation alarm system is connected to the smoke detection system that will
activate automatically after having detected signs of smoke or an abnormal increase in
heat. You can also activate the alarm manually by pressing the red “break glass” fire
boxes situated throughout the campus. Evacuation procedures include, but are not
limited to:
• Fire
• Flood
• Bomb or terrorist threat
• Imminent invasion
Fire Evacuation
Fire evacuation is extremely important for all ALA community members to:
Lock-down emergencies Understand Doon the campus.

include, but are not limited to, any intruder
Fire is the most dangerous threat you will face. It Learn the evacuation
is an ever-present danger that could occur at any procedures and follow them to
time. A fire, left unchecked, will not only destroy the letter. If you hear the fire
the campus but can and will kill you. Therefore, alarm you are to evacuate no
fire evacuation procedures, in accordance with matter the time, no matter the
South African Law, have been put in place and day, no matter what you are
these will be practiced until we are able to meet
doing if the alarm sounds you
the requirements as stated by South African Law.
evacuate
In fact, it is illegal under South African law not to
evacuate, and it is an offence at ALA.
Lock-down emergencies include, but are not limited to, any intruder on the campus.
42
Evacuation Procedures
The fire detection system is automated and will be activated when a smoke
detector detects any evidence of a possible fire. You can also manually activate the
evacuation alarm by pressing any of the red “break glass boxes” located at all the
exit doors around campus.
In the event of an evacuation emergency, a solid alarm will sound throughout the
campus. It will sound like a fire siren.
• On hearing the alarm, students must immediately exit buildings in a calm
and orderly manner and proceed to the assembly point (soccer field). You
will find boards with your hall names on them, you are to line up in front
of your hall name. Your Hall Head will assemble with you.
• During a fire evacuation members of the Student Emergency Response
Team (SERT) take control of the situation, you must follow their
instructions until the emergency is over.
• Failure to evacuate or to follow the instructions of the SERT team will
result in disciplinary action
• If the threat is between you and the soccer field or in the event that it is
raining, proceed to the alternate assembly point, the dining hall.
• Do not re-enter any building on your way to the assembly point. Keep clear
of buildings where possible.
• Do not return for your belongings.
• On arrival at the assembly point, students and residential faculty should
assemble by hall for ease of roll call.
• If someone is missing, immediately notify your hall SERT member.
• Do not leave the assembly point unless specifically told to do so.
• Once the roll call is complete and the threat has passed, all community
members will be allowed to return to their work or given further
instructions.
Fire Drills
To ensure that all members of the ALA community are familiar with emergency
procedures, regular drills will be carried out by everyone on the ALA campus. If you
Lock-down emergencies
hear an alarm, include,
you should butthough
act as are notthe
limited to, anysituation
emergency intruder exists.
on the Drills will be
campus.
carried out at varied hours, including during class time and at night. Because the
community must be prepared for an emergency at any time, drills must be conducted
under all circumstances.
43
PASTORAL
3 CARE
Supporting &
Enhancing the Student
Experience to ensure
Student Success
44
HOUSE PROGRAMME
There are six Houses at ALA and each house is a brother sister hall combination, with each student,
faculty member and staff member being assigned to a house.
Throughout the year, houses compete in sporting, cultural and fun-filled activities designed to promote
communication and community spirit.
45
SPIRITUAL LIFE PROGRAMME
At African Leadership Academy, we encourage students to grapple with “the big questions” - why are we
here, where did we come from, what does it all mean? We define “religion” as a set of beliefs and rituals
and “spirituality” as one’s own practice in maintaining a relationship to the supernatural and/or these
larger questions. One can be religious without being spiritual and spiritual without being religious.
We value diversity and encourage all students to continue practising and growing in their faith during their
time at the Academy. Students employ a variety of techniques to further their spiritual practice and
inquiry:
• Regular prayer and worship
• Sharing spiritual experiences of others, even with those of different faiths.
• Self or communal study of spiritual and/or philosophical texts
• Meditation and periods of meaningful reflection
• Using the privileges and advantages we possess in the service of others
ALA holds an interdenominational Christian church service on campus on Sunday evenings and a Muslim
service every Friday. The Christian service is led by a student team and worship band, with rotating
preachers from Protestant churches with whom ALA has a close relationship. The Muslim prayers are
sometimes led by an Imam with whom ALA also has a close relationship. An Interfaith room is always open
for prayer as determined by campus hours.
There are regular visits to churches, masjids and services off campus in order for students to meet and
integrate with the local Johannesburg religious communities.
On-campus faith-based organizations, such as the Islamic Community and Youth for Christ (Y4C), are led
by students to enable the growth of their peers. These groups host activities throughout the week
including Bible study, intercessory prayer meetings, morning devotionals, and worship nights.
46
HEALTH & WELLNESS SERVICES
ALA has a dedicated school nurse who operates the Health Centre. The purpose of the Health Centre is
to provide a safe and healthy environment for all students and to best meet the health care needs of
students. The Academy is committed to ensuring and supporting the good health of all its students. ALA
believes in teaching students to become honest and responsible agents for their own health. Trust in and
sincerity with the school nurse will ensure the correct diagnosis of health issues and therefore medical
assistance will be guaranteed. Internet diagnosis is completely discouraged.
Wellness Team
ALA has an active, diverse and supportive counselling programme on campus. There is
a clinical psychologist available on campus on a weekly schedule. The psychologist can
be seen by appointment or as required. Students should feel at ease when going to
the ALA counselling department in the Wellness Centre at any time with any issue, even
if they have only been an observer of an issue that does not affect them directly. These
issues may include, but are in no way limited to, the following: sexual harassment,
personal problems at home or with family, bullying, verbal or physical abuse, offensive
language used by a member of the ALA community, inappropriate interactions
between students and inappropriate interactions between students and teachers.
Wellness counsellors are trained to address sensitive and personal matters in a

confidential manner. However, if issues arise that suggest or threaten harm to the
individual or to others, the counsellor will be obliged to share the information with the
relevant parties as needed to ensure student safety and well-being. Depending on the
severity of the problem experienced, the counsellor may go on to refer the issue to
professional psychological counselling services. To measure the students’ wellness
level and provide adequate support, the team may carry out specialised and general
surveys on all students from time to time.
Medical Insurance
A basic medical insurance is offered for all students. Parents or guardians may decide to
take out different medical insurance for their child. This must be communicated to the
school nurse and Admissions Office before arrival on campus. Under South African law,
no person may be a member of two medical insurance schemes at the same time.
South African residents are therefore required to confirm to the School Nurse which
medical aid they intend to belong to i.e. ALA’s medical option or the family’s existing
medical option.
47
Prescription Medication Policy
All medication prescribed (including over the counter medication and vitamins) for a
student must be reported to the Health Centre and handed to the Nurse on arrival to
school. The school nurse and/or the school matron must dispense all controlled
medication. The school uses a doctor and pharmacy covered by the student’s school
insurance, but medication covered on the students’ option type is subject to a formulary
list. Should there be a need for a medical doctor to prescribe medication not covered on
this list, the student’s account will be charged for the pharmacy bill.
Students taking any prescribed medication must have routine monitoring by a local
physician and/or psychologist as recommended by the prescribing physician. All
medications will be dispensed only as ordered by the prescribing physician. Students must
ensure that their physician(s) communicate any changes in dosage or time of
administration in writing to the health care department via email to
clinic@africanleadershipacademy.org. All such medications are dispensed on an
individual basis.
All prescription
physician and/or medications
psychologist asand over-the-counter
recommended by themedications are dispensed
prescribing physician. All at the
discretion ofwill
medications thebeschool nurse.only
dispensed The asschool matron
ordered willprescribing
by the hold any after-hours
physician. and weekend
Students
dosesensure
must for students to self-administer.
that their physician(s) communicate any changes in dosage or time of
administration in writing to the health care department via email to
We respect the confidentiality of all students
clinic@africanleadershipacademy.org. who take medication.
All such medications are dispensed It ison
the
anstudent’s
responsibility
individual basis.to take medication as prescribed. Students must keep any medication
dispensed by the Health Centre in a secure location. It is the expectation of the school
that
All students are
prescription primarily and
medications self-regulating;
over-the-counterfailuremedications
to take medication is no at
are dispensed excuse
the for
misbehaviour.
discretion of the school nurse. The school matron will hold any after-hours and weekend
doses for students to self-administer.
Possessing medication other than that received from the Health Centre may result in
We respectaction.
disciplinary the confidentiality
To this end, of students
all studentsarewho take medication.
required to hand all It ismedications
the student’s(properly
responsibility
labelled) to theto take medication
school as prescribed.
nurse on arrival at school. Students must keep any medication
dispensed by the Health Centre in a secure location. It is the expectation of the school
that students
Sharing are primarily
medication self-regulating;
with other failure to take
students is dangerous andmedication
is thereforeisviewed
no excuse for
seriously. Such
anmisbehaviour.
action is regarded as a Category 3 offence.
is no excuse for misbehaviour.
48
HIV/AIDS Policy
The Academy’s HIV/AIDS programme takes into account the ethos and the values of the
community in which the school exists, and periodic conversations about such issues as
sexuality, AIDS and HIV will seek to provide information and develop decision-making
skills. Early in each school year, ALA holds a health and wellness day that includes an
optional HIV/AIDS test. The results of those tests are confidential. The choice to reveal
HIV/AIDS status lies with the individual concerned. Should an individual wish to disclose
their status, this information would be welcomed and would at all times be dealt with in
accordance with the individual's wishes. Testing will be offered to all students, staff and
faculty, but no student will be required upon entering or whilst in the Academy to take
an HIV/AIDS test.
In the event of treating emergencies and medical injuries at the Academy, proper
preventative care must be taken such as the use of surgical gloves. All blood should be
treated as if it were potentially HIV positive. A network of counsellors is available at the
Academy for those individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. All faculty, staff, students and
parents are expected to act in a way that is responsible and sensitive towards the issue
of HIV/AIDS. No discrimination of any sort is permitted at the Academy.
Medical & Dental Services

ALA’s Health insurance plan provides coverage for routine health, dental and vision care
with participating doctors, dentists and optometrists. There is a limit on specialist visits
and certain procedures. Expenses that are above and beyond the standard cover
provided by ALA will be handled directly by the student’s family. ALA will not be
responsible for payment of any health costs over and above that which is specified in
the Academy’s medical aid policy. The school nurse will be available to assist students
Monday through Friday and alternate Saturdays until noon. Outside of these hours,
the Matron is available for primary care.
In keeping with our Child Protection Policy, either the nurse or matron will be present
with the school doctor during all consultations.
Students who have pre-existing conditions that require special medication or specialist
visits should consider remaining on their parents’ insurance (if the cover extends to
South Africa) or identify a more comprehensive plan, for which parents will be
responsible.
49
Reporting an Illness
ALA believes in teaching students to become honest and responsible agents for their own health. ALA
requests that students adhere to these guidelines to get the required medical cover.
If a student is sick, he/she must go to the matron or school nurse.
If a student is too sick to get out of bed, it is their responsibility to inform any of the
adults (Hall Head/Deputy Head of Residence or roommate) at their disposal, to get
the appropriate help (nurse or matron). Students should be able to ask their
roommate to get an adult in the case where they do not feel well enough to do so
themselves.
Take your medicine and rest. You will get better. Students who are officially excused
will be accounted for on a 'Wellness Tracker.' A member of the Health and Wellness
team will flag a student who, under exceptional circumstances, is incapacitated such
that they are unable to prepare for any immediate tests or assignments. It is, however,
the student’s responsibility - once they are well enough - to reach out to their teachers,
copying in their Year Head and advisor, to work out and commit to a reasonable
deadline to submit their assignment or write their missed test.
First Aid and Medical Emergencies
At the beginning of each academic year, ALA commits to training some of its faculty and
staff, including all residential faculty members, to handle and treat medical emergencies.
There is always at least one fully trained individual on campus who is available to react
immediately when notified of an emergency.
50
STUDENT VACCINATION POLICY
ALA admits students from all over the world into her two-year diploma programme. When they arrive at
the Academy, they live together as one big family in the dormitory which is divided into halls. While living
together as a community is interesting and teaches students to live together in harmony as the future of
our continent, living together can also come with its challenges, one of which is health and hygiene.
In order to ensure that all students are safe and has the necessary immunity against any communicable
disease, all students (and staffulty) are required to be vaccinated against certain diseases in alignment
with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations (www.who.int) before they come to ALA.
Submission of Vaccination History

In order to provide adequate processing time, vaccination records must be received at least 30 days prior
to a student’s arrival on campus. Where deficiencies exist between a student’s vaccination history and
WHO recommendations, the student and family will be advised of the additional required vaccinations.
Certification of these additional vaccinations will be required upon arrival to campus.
Students arriving without a completed vaccination history for any reason, or those needing updated
vaccination during their time enrolled in the academy, will be required to promptly acquire vaccinations
in consultation with the Academy’s health care team. Fees associated with these vaccinations beyond
those covered by the school medical aid plan will be directly billed to the student’s account.
Vaccinations Required for Tertiary Student Visa and College Matriculation

In conjunction with the University Guidance program, the Academy’s health care team assists all enrolled
students in processing vaccination documentation required for college matriculation. Should additional
vaccinations be required for college enrolment, the school will provide support in scheduling these
vaccinations and directly bill the student’s account for any associated fees not covered by medical aid.
Other Vaccinations
As a preventative measure, ALA provides opportunity for members of the community to be vaccinated
against flu at the appropriate time in the year. Charges associated with this will be billed to students’
account.
Covid-19 Vaccinations
All students will be expected to have received Covid-19 vaccination before coming / arriving
on campus. The vaccination certificate must be shared together with the health
questionnaire. Covid-19 vaccines must be WHO approved vaccines.
51
DISCIPLINE
4
Rules, Rewards &
Sanctions at ALA
52
BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS
General Behaviour
At ALA, we hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of conduct. Our students and alumni
are expected to act in a manner consistent with the mission and values of the Academy, and should always
remember that they are representatives of, and ambassadors for, the institution.
Respect for Others and the Community

Absolute respect for the rights and viewpoints of others is expected at all times from
all members of the ALA community. Rudeness, offensive language, profanity, and
malicious behaviour violate the fundamental spirit of the Academy and will not be
tolerated. Dishonesty, lying, verbal or physical abuse, bullying, hazing (potentially
abusive or dangerous sports or club initiation practices), intimidation, harassment and
acts that endanger the safety of others are considered serious breaches of conduct and
will be referred to the Dean as grounds for disciplinary action up to and including
expulsion. For extremely serious offences that breach the law of the land, students may
be referred to legal authorities and may face the possibility of legal prosecution.
Respect for Others’ Belongings and School Property

Students are expected to respect the property of their classmates, the Academy
and other members of the community. Theft and vandalism of any kind including
unauthorized “borrowing” of another’s belongings is ground for a Category 3
disciplinary action and will be referred to the Disciplinary Council.
The Deans Office, will from time to time, with consultation with the Security Office
on campus, review the footage recorded of activity in the dormitory common
areas and other areas where students get together if there is reason to believe
that there are behavioural concerns when it comes to respecting others’
belongings and school property .
Speak Up!
Any student or community member who observes or is the object of inappropriate
behaviour should report the incident to the Deputy Dean or another trusted adult,
who will handle it accordingly. If, for any reason, a person is uncomfortable going
to the Dean’s office, he or she may also go to his/her advisor, who will treat and
handle the matter in confidence.
1. Respect everyone as you wish to be respected.

2. Everything has a value, even if it is not to you, it is
valuable to someone else.
3. Every action has an equal or opposite reaction.
53
REWARDS AND SANCTIONS POLICY
Overview of Rewards and Sanctions Policy

As future leaders of the African continent, ALA students are encouraged to take responsibility for the
consequences of their behaviour. Given ALA’s founding belief in the search for the underlying causes of
problems, students should recognize that all actions have consequences for themselves and the
community. As a community, we believe that internal self-motivation is the most powerful force in
determining an individual’s behaviour. Our rewards and sanctions policy are designed to support and
guide students as they move towards this goal.
Goals of Rewards and Sanctions Policy

• Reward students for effort, achievement, taking risks, meeting challenges
and living ALA values and thereby create a culture of improvement.
• Create a community in which students feel valued and supported.
• Allow students to reflect on, evaluate and take responsibility for the results
of their actions, identifying how their behaviour impacts others.
• Give immediate, meaningful and tangible feedback and monitor student

progress.
• Achieve and uphold excellent standards of conduct and behaviour.
• Ensure the safety and security of all members of the ALA community.
Rewards
The rewards policy aims to value the contributions of all students and support them as members of the
ALA community. It reinforces and celebrates the ALA values. Rewards may be formal or informal and may
take a diverse range of forms. They may be identified and awarded by the school authorities, by teachers,
or by other students. One popular award on campus, for example, is the Unsung Hero of the Month,
selected by community nomination.
The rewards system encompasses a number of formal and informal rewards for
students:
• Informal praise within everyday conversations
• Formal acknowledgement of student’s achievement within class, hall, or
house situations
• A wide range of celebratory awards
• Values celebration of students who live ALA values
54
Sanctions
ALA students are expected to demonstrate leadership and embody the school’s values at all times. We
strive to guide and mentor students toward this positive behaviour, and in so doing will sometimes require
taking sanctions to address behaviour that is not aligned with ALA’s values. ALA adopts a considered and
staggered approach to disciplining students to ensure equity and effectiveness; the system seeks to be
fair, transparent and consistent at all times. Sanctions are related to the offence with a clear link to
corrective behaviour. As a leadership academy, we also believe in giving students the opportunity to show
improved behaviour, and to encourage proper behaviour from their peers, in order for sanctions to be
adjusted.
All infractions are individual in nature. Incidents of violations of the behavioural expectations or
inappropriate behaviour fall into three levels of severity:
55
THE DISCIPLINARY COUNCIL
As the Disciplinary council is concerned with the rehabilitation of individuals whose

behaviour is out of line with ALA value, the council will make its decisions looking
through the following lens:
a. The individual leadership development of the student/s brought before the
council
b. The facts of the case presented before the council
c. The Impact of the actions of the student/s on the community
d. The guidelines of the ALA handbook
e. The rules of procedure within the Disciplinary Council
Members of the Disciplinary Council
The custodian of the rules of procedure as well as the rules of the ALA handbook.
He/she is also responsible for thinking about the student’s leadership development as
well as the impact the actions of the student/s and the decision made by the committee
Deputy Dean
will have on the community. The Deputy Dean is the only member with the ability to
make a final decision on the outcome of on any case brought before the Disciplinary
Council.
Responsible for all investigations into any report brought to the attention of the DC.
Head of Residence
The Head of Residence and Student Life will also be concerned with the means of aiding
and Student Life
the student grow in their leadership journey.
Student representatives who will serve also as the custodians of both the rules of
Two members of the
procedure and the rules of the Handbook. They will be charged with thinking about
Honour Council
the leadership development of the student brought before the Council as well as the
(one of which must be
impact the actions of the said student on the community. They will also serve clerical
the permanent
functions within the DC.
member of the DC)
Assists in aiding the student to represent his or her opinions. The advisor will then give
recommendations based on their relationship with the student as to what is the best
means of helping the student on their leadership journey.
Student’s Advisor
They will aid in the student’s rehabilitation. Advisors are expected to support their
advisee through the disciplinary/educational process by ensuring that
recommendations are closely followed and that learning actually takes place.
This individual will only be present upon the request of the student having the DC
hearing. In the instance that this individual is present in the DC, they, along with the
Additional Adult
advisor aid the student in representation as well as creating a plan to aid with the
Support
student’s leadership journey. The additional adult will however not be a part of the
student’s rehabilitation.
Note: All members of the Council must be present for a Disciplinary Council meeting to be held.
The decision made by the Disciplinary council will always be targeted at doing what is best for the student
especially as they continue on their leadership journey.
56
Process of the Disciplinary Council
The process of the Disciplinary Council is broken down into five stages which are detailed below:
Communication
Step 1: Once a report is made, the Deputy Dean who is the head of the
Disciplinary Council will immediately consult with the Head of Residence
and Student Life and the Chairperson of the Honour Council. Upon their
meeting, they will decide whether the case is a Category 3 or not. In the
case of the latter the Deputy Dean will convene the entire Council and
decide a date for the hearing (which must occur within 72 hours of this
report. Statements will be immediately collected from all students
concerned.
Step 2: A letter is sent to the student/s in question. This letter will

contain the time of the DC and the infraction committed. The student’s
parent/guardian and advisor will be copied in the letter.
Step 3: After the letter from the Deputy Dean, the Honour Council will
meet with the student who is the subject of the DC, the Advisor and if
requested the other adult as requested by the student to explain the
process of the DC to them and to give the student counsel on how to
best represent himself or herself. The DC cannot hold until this meeting
has been taken place.
Investigation
All matters concerning investigation into the case brought before the
Disciplinary Council will be led by the Deputy Dean. The forms of
investigations may vary, however when obtaining statements from
students, it is required that the Honor Council be present as they must
be the primary contacts of the students and must provide counsel to
such students according to the values of the ALA community.
“Students” include the student being investigated as well as all affiliated
with the case. Once a DC process is triggered, it will take precedence
over other priorities for all DC members such that it can be completed in
a thorough and timely manner.
57
Hearing
During the hearing, all members of the Disciplinary Council will convene.
The aim of the gathering is to confirm the truth of the facts presented
after investigation and to explore the student’s perspective with regard
to the offence committed.
During the hearing, the Deputy Dean and members of the Honor Council
are in charge of upholding the rule of procedure. These include the
prohibition of harsh and accusatory language. All members must remain
respectful to each other within the Disciplinary Council hearing, DC
members and students alike. It is recommended that the Chair of the
Disciplinary Council begins and ends with a statement that assures the
members of the Council and the student of the DC’s commitment to the
student’s development.
Deliberation
This is the stage at which members of the DC discuss the possible
outcomes of the DC after the investigation and the hearing concerning a
case. The deliberation stage will be divided into three parts which are
detailed below:
Deliberation: After the Disciplinary Council has met with the student,
he/she will be asked to excuse the Council and the Advisor will be asked
to give their recommendations on what is the best way to support the
student’s journey at the Academy. This is as a result of the relationship
the Advisor has with the student, this puts them in a better position to
give insight into decisions that would best support the student.
In addition to the advisor’s recommendations, the Disciplinary Council

will discuss the case brought before them with consideration of the facts,
the student’s perspective, the recommendations, and the guidelines of
the Handbook. After the discussion, the Deputy Dean endorses the
recommendation and makes a final decision.
Post deliberation: After the decision has been made, it will be

communicated to the student and his/her parents by the Deputy Dean of
the Academy.
DC recommendations resulting in a suspension or expulsion are

forwarded to the Dean for endorsement. All other sanctions are decided
finally by the Deputy Dean.
58
Rehabilitation
The student will be aided in their rehabilitation by their Advisor.
The Advisor will be the supporting adult. The rehabilitation will be
tailored to the needs of the student.
The Honor Council will be key in helping the community through the entire
process depending on the magnitude of the offence by the student and the
decision of the DC. The Honor Council is responsible for calling a town
hall if there is a concern by the student body over a particular decision.
The Student Government can make a request to the Honor Council to do
so.
Reporting Sanctions to Universities

African Leadership Academy is designed to be an institution of model
leaders who embrace integrity and excellence in all they do. If a student
is fit to remain in the ALA community, we believe they are fit for a
university environment. As much as possible disciplinary issues remain
an internal affair, except in extreme situations involving impersonation,
fraud, falsification of documents, abuse and character traits that
potentially pose a threat to the prospective university community. It
would then be the obligation of the Academy to pass on information
and allow the University to make its own decisions. Decisions on such
cases will ultimately be made by the Dean of Academy.
59
HONOUR COUNCIL
African Leadership Academy seeks to promote a culture of peer accountability, where fellow students
hold each other accountable to the demands and expectations of the Academy’s values and regulations.
The culture of accountability is regarded as a pillar that supports the curriculum. The Honour Council was
established in 2011 for this purpose.
Mandate of the Honour Council

The Honour Council is charged with handling repeated category 1 infractions and first-offence category 2
infractions. These include but are not limited to:
• Multiple unexcused absences
• Multiple unexcused tardiness
• Off-campus infractions
• Misuse or damage to property.
Outcomes
The Honour Council facilitates opportunity for appropriate reflection and correction to behavioural trends
that fall out of alignment with academy expectations. Honour Council engagement supports examination
of intent underlying the student’s actions, the understanding of any implications, and the ways forward
to prevent a continuation of the behaviour. The Honour Council will not only be engaged in discussion
with the student but will also recommend consequences for the infractions and future action designed to
avoid a repeated or an escalated form of the behaviour.
Since September 2012, the Honour Council has been comprised solely of students. This body consults
regularly with faculty coaches, Year Heads and the Deputy Dean to enable it to carry out its
responsibilities.
Honour Council Code

The purpose of this Honour Code is to communicate the meaning and importance of our values that hold
students to the highest standard of conduct. This code is in alignment with the mission of African
Leadership Academy.
The Honour code seeks to build a community that is guided by an internal moral compass, central to the
nature of leadership. It represents the highest possible expression of our shared values among the
members of the school community.
60
In all aspects of life within the Academy and beyond, students must uphold our six core values:
Finally, it is the intent of this Honour Code to hold each student accountable for their actions, constantly
reminding us of our core values that we are expected to abide by every day. In the event of a violation of
this Honour Code, the offender will be subject to disciplinary action by a teacher, faculty on duty or any
of the disciplinary bodies.
61
CHILD PROTECTION: HARASSMENT, ASSAULT AND ABUSE
The Academy acknowledges the special risks posed to students in matters of harassment, assault and
abuse. In order to ensure a community of universal safety, dignity and respect, particular care is given to
preventing and responding to these infractions, beginning with a clear understanding of their definition.
The Child Protection Policy
All adults at the academy are required to understand, sign and abide by the academy’s Child Protection
Policy (CPP, see appendix). Students are also trained on this policy annually. According to the CPP:
… a Child (or Children) is defined under this policy as any person, of either sex, who is
enrolled in an Academy programme including the Two year Programme, SEGL at ALA,
Global Scholars Program, Model African Union, or any other camps. A child is also
defined as anyone on ALA premises who is or appears to be under the age of 18 years.
As such, all ALA students are entitled to the rights and protections available to them under the Child
Protection Policy, even if they are over the age of 18.
If any community member ever becomes aware or suspicious of a violation of the CPP they must report
it immediately to one of the following individuals: Chief Executive Officer, Dean of the Academy, Dean
of Global Programs or Human Resources Manager. Reports can be made in person or through email.
Emails can also be sent to ombud@africanleadershipacademy.org and will be auto-delivered to
Responsible Officer and Human Resources Manager. The identity of the reporter will, where possible,
remain confidential in the investigative process, and the trained individual receiving the report will place
the report under the Responsible Officer appointed by the Board of Trustees to ensure compliance with
the processes defined in the CPP and related documents.
For the benefit of all community members, this section provides further definitions, explains the process
for managing infractions of this nature and indicates important resources that are available.
Important Definitions
The CPP defines peer-to-peer abuse as follows:
… is any form of physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse, and coercive control
exercised between Children, and within Children’s relationships (both intimate and
non-intimate), friendships, and wider peer associations. Peer-to-peer abuse can take
various forms, including (but not limited to): serious bullying (including
cyberbullying), relationship abuse, domestic violence and abuse, child sexual
exploitation, youth and serious youth violence, harmful sexual behaviour and/or
prejudice-based violence including, but not limited to, gender-based violence.
Incidents or suspicions of peer-to-peer abuse place the same obligations on ALA
personnel to report and will be managed through processes that are consistent with
the guidelines provided in this policy. Differences in gender and sexuality are often
prevalent in questions of peer to peer abuse.
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ALA recognizes that students arrive at the academy with varied understanding of matters pertaining to
harassment, assault, abuse and consent. Therefore, special effort is made to provide education early and
often for all students on these matters. Below are several important definitions which all community
members are expected to understand:
Harassment: Harassment is behaviour that creates an intimidating or hostile environment or has the
purpose of substantially interfering with a students’ educational performance as well as mental and
emotional wellbeing. This includes unwelcome physical, verbal or nonverbal, or virtual conduct.
Verbal Sexual harassment: unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, or other conduct based on sex that
affects the dignity of students at school and staff at work. This includes unwelcome verbal or nonverbal,
or virtual conduct.
Physical Sexual harassment: unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, or other conduct based on sex that
affects the dignity of students at school and staff at work. This includes unwelcome physical contact.
(Using the ALA definition of dignity).
Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse is when someone is forced, threatened, and/or manipulated to take part in
any activity that has sexual intent by the perpetrator. Force, threats, and/or manipulation can be
implied, particularly when there is an inherent power imbalance between the two parties.
Sexual assault: sexual assault is any involuntary sexual act in which a person is threatened, coerced, or
forced to engage against their will, or any sexual touching of a person who has not consented.
Consent: a voluntary, enthusiastic, and clear agreement between the participants to engage in specific
activity. Consent can be retracted at any point during an activity or engagement. Consent cannot be
given if one or both parties is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Consent cannot be given if one
party is a student and the other is a staffulty member. Consent cannot be given after coercion or
manipulation. By law, in South Africa, consent cannot be given by a child below the age of 16.
Reporting Peer-to-Peer Infractions:

Ensuring the safety of all students is our most important responsibility. If any community member
becomes aware of a confirmed or suspected case of harassment, assault or abuse, they should report this
immediately. All infractions of this nature are considered Category 3 infractions and will be treated
accordingly by the DC.
What if I don’t want to start a DC Case? If a student is unsure of the matter they are reporting, for example
they are having encounters with a peer that feel “uncomfortable”, “creepy”, “sketchy”, or “weird”, but
they are worried about starting a DC process, they should still approach an adult for advice. The Head of
the Health & Wellness Department is an important resource for all community members on these
concerns. The Head of Health & Wellness is available for conversations with any student about such
concerns and will provide advice on how best to safely proceed.
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The Disciplinary Process:
Once a report is made of any instance of peer-to-peer harassment, assault or abuse, the Disciplinary
Council process will come into effect. Due to the special risks related to these offences, the DC will also
consult with the Head of Health & Wellness on appropriate adjustments to the DC process. These
adjustments may include:
• Counselling meetings, focused on health and safety, conducted with students before the DC
process begins
• Opportunity for students to provide statements privately, in writing, to a wellness counsellor
rather than being required to meet the DC in person
In order to focus the role of the Head of Health & Wellness on matters of student safety and well-being,
they remain separate from Disciplinary Council deliberations and advise the process.
DC investigations must always be conducted in a timely manner while maintaining confidentiality. The DC
will endeavour to conclude investigations of this nature within 72 hours.
Infractions rising to the level of legal offence will be referred to the relevant authorities in South Africa.
All allegations and infractions of this nature will also be appropriately reported to the Responsible Officer,
in keeping with the Child Protection Policy.
Infractions and Sanctions:
While all infractions of this nature will be treated as Category 3 offences and reviewed by the DC, it is
important to recognize that there are different degrees of severity. The following table (drawn from
government publications in South Africa) provides an illustrative description of how different infractions
may be treated. This table provides some examples to help understanding, it is not meant to be a complete
list of all possible infractions.
While ALA’s disciplinary philosophy works towards restoration and rehabilitation, it is important to note
the special risk posed by infractions of this nature. The DC will give special attention to the needs of victims
of harassment, assault or abuse when deciding appropriate sanctions. This consideration includes the
right of victims to continue their studies at ALA in a safe environment.
Sanctions for lesser infractions may include reflections, written apologies, mandated counselling,
behavioural contracts and other rehabilitative measures. Repeated or grave first-time infractions will
result in suspension or dismissal. Ultimately, the final decision for which sanction to recommend will rest
with the DC reviewing each case on its specific merits.
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Level of Illustration of Offence Potential Evidence
Offence
Less Severe Verbal Harassment Statements indicating the

comment, time, location and
• Gender-specific derogatory language and/or comments audience.
• Rough and vulgar humour or language used to undermine one’s dignity
• Bragging about sexual prowess Behavioural cross-reference
• Sexual or gender-related comments used to bully a person
• Suggestive or offensive remarks or innuendo about members of a specific Chat history if available
gender
Physical Harassment Statements indicating the

comment, time, location and
• Leering or inappropriate staring audience.
• Demanding hugs
• Invading personal space Behavioural cross-reference
• Unnecessary physical contact, including unwanted touching
• Sexual or gender-related conduct used to bully a person
Circulation and Cyber Bullying Statements
• Displaying or circulating of sexually explicit graffiti Screenshots of offensive material

• Circulation of nude photographs of an individual
• Spreading sexual rumours Behavioural cross-reference
• Using the internet or social media platforms to undermine the dignity of an
individual
Persistence Statements
• Frequent unwanted advances on an individual Screenshots of message exchanges

• Demanding dates or sexual favours or emails
• Threats to penalize or otherwise punish a person who refuses to comply with
sexual advances (reprisal)
• Repetition of any Level One, Two or Three offence in spite of being issued a
warning.
Sexual Assault Statements
• Any involuntary sexual act in which a person is threatened, coerced, or forced

Most Severe to engage against their will, or any sexual touching of a person who has not
May be consented.
forwarded to
legal
authorities
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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY OF STUDENTS
The Academy holds all members of its community a very high standard of moral conduct that is reflected
in our six core values. We believe that academic integrity is quite straightforward. Students are expected
to use their values as a guide when conducting academic research, study, and assessment. If something
feels wrong, it probably is wrong. If you are not sure, ask someone whose judgement you trust. The
Academy believes that students uphold their academic integrity by consistently honouring the following
qualities.
Academic Honesty
Be true to yourself and be true to your word. Your name on your work affirms
your honour in having completed it fairly and without unauthorized assistance
or advantage. Never misrepresent yourself and never deceive or mislead
others when you know the truth to be otherwise.
Respect for Viewpoints of Other Persons

The Academy is a forum for the exchange of ideas. The Academy recognizes,
respects and celebrates the diversity of opinions that is born out of
differences in culture, religion, gender, race, ethnic origin, and political
viewpoints. You should always respect and defend another’s right to voice
his or her opinion, regardless of how strongly you may disagree. Be an active
and open listener, allowing others to speak freely and uninterrupted. Seek to
understand their perspective and point of view and ask questions to
understand the basis for that point of view. You should also always consider
how your opinions will affect others.
Right and Responsibility to Dissent

The Academy expects and relies on students to be critical and independent
thinkers. There are times for silence, but students are asked to speak their
mind, thoughtfully and courteously, when they disagree or feel something is
wrong. This applies as much in an academic setting (e.g. an intellectual
classroom debate) as it does in social or other settings (e.g. responding to peer
pressure).
Academic Excellence
Students at ALA have been selected because they strive for excellence in all
that they do: they have accomplished great things and they come to ALA to
accomplish much more. The Academy’s culture is one that celebrates hard
work and success. Students are expected to push themselves and their peers
to excel, and to take pride in the personal and academic accomplishments that
result.
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Assignment Expectations
It is expected that student submissions are uploaded onto Canvas with a clearly identifiable file title that
includes the course and the student’s name. Google Document links are not an acceptable form of
submission. For written assignments, a student’s essay needs to be within the word limit range provided
in the assignment specifications, with flexibility to go 10% above or below. The Works Cited page is not
considered part of the word count. All students are expected to sign and attach the Plagiarism
Declaration to their assignments. A digital signature may work
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty can take many forms. All forms of academic dishonesty are equally reprehensible
at the Academy, and offending students will be reported to the Year Heads, who will note their name
down in the Academic Integrity Violation Tracker. A recommendation will be made to the Disciplinary
Council for a repeat offender.
The following are considered forms of academic dishonesty.
Facilitating Academic
Cheating Fabrication Academic Sabotage
Dishonesty
Cheating occurs when a Fabrication is the deliberate One commits academic sabotage by A student assisting
person knowingly or and unauthorized invention taking any action with the intent of another student or group
intentionally uses or falsification of information negatively affecting the work of of students in any of the
unauthorized materials, or citations as part of one’s another student. above behaviours will also
information or study work. be considered party to the
aids in an examination, Examples: hoarding or damaging offence and subject to the
test, quiz, paper or other Examples: Citing a quotation communal materials (e.g. hiding library same consequences.
work. that was never written or books to prevent others from accessing
ever took place; listing a book them); altering or damaging the Examples: providing
Examples: Copying from in sources cited that does not product of others’ work; turning in another student with your
another student during exist; making up a story as work posing as another student. old tests or exams they
an exam or test; having part of a journalistic or non- will take in the future;
another person write an fiction piece of work; allowing another student
essay or piece of work fabricating results from a to copy your work without
for you (either partially survey or experiment. giving credit.
or completely);
obtaining information
about an exam, test or
quiz the teacher did not
intend students to know
about prior to testing.
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Plagiarism
Plagiarism means that one deliberately or knowingly represents another’s work as one’s own original thought or work either
by directly copying someone else’s written or spoken words without providing due credit or by deliberately rewording or also
rearranging someone else’s sentence, paragraph, piece of writing or plot as one’s own.
Plagiarism can also apply to self-plagiarism, in which case one replicates their own words from elsewhere without giving
credit to the placement of the original piece. In order to reference fully, students are expected to include a complete
reference list in the Works Cited page of their written assignments, following alphabetical order.
Rule of thumb: If using four (4) or more consecutive words in a row that are written or spoken by another person, or written
or spoken by yourself in an entirely different context indicate as a quotation and provide a citation in MLA format.
Prevention of Academic Dishonesty
ALA students have been selected in part because of their demonstrated character and integrity. They are
expected to act as role models and actively promote an environment of academic integrity and ethical
conduct. The Academy thus relies on students to act in the following ways:
Do not put yourself in situations where it is easy or tempting to cheat or act dishonestly.
If you find an assignment difficult and feel that you cannot cope with its demands, or if you are struggling to
finish an assignment because of time pressures, seek help early and often. Academic support resources are
available on campus to help students with questions and issues.
Document sources and cite exhaustively. When in doubt, always err on the side of citing sources. Provide
credit where credit is due and strengthen your own work by demonstrating that you have properly
researched, understood and mastered the subject. The thoughtful organization, analysis and structuring of
others’ thoughts and works, accompanied by proper documentation, is evidence of a student’s analytical
capabilities and mastery of the subject at hand.
If you observe potentially dishonest behaviour, it is your responsibility as a citizen of the academic community
to privately report it to a faculty member who will handle the matter discreetly and accordingly. If speaking
to the teacher directly is uncomfortable, students may also go to their advisor, who will treat and resolve the
matter privately and confidentially.
In questionable situations, always bear in mind the consequences of cheating and plagiarism (see
“Academic Disciplinary Measures and Policies” section).
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ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attend
Today Achieve
Tomorrow
ALA strongly believes that school success goes hand in hand with good attendance. Good attendance at
school is important for academic progress, social interaction with peers and the opportunity to participate
in clubs and try new activities.
At ALA, taking attendance at the start of each class serves two purposes:
• It serves as a safety check to ensure that we are up to date with the whereabouts of every
student on campus.
• Taking attendance serves to hold each of our young leaders accountable for keeping their
agreement to be present at every one of these programmes and living out the ALA value of
Integrity: we are a people of our word.
Attendance Checklist:
Absenteeism and tardiness will be reported and recorded.
Anticipated absences or tardiness (to attend a conference, important family event, school-
sponsored sporting event, etc.) may be excused by the Year Head, if permission from a
parent/guardian or coach/teacher is received 48 hours in advance and shared with teachers
whose classes will be missed.
If a student is sick, he/she must see the nurse, or a member of the Wellness Team to be
excused from class or other school events. obligations.
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Unexcused absences or tardiness are unacceptable and do not reflect the values that we
hold for members of the community. Unexcused absences or tardiness from any part of the
Academy’s routines (i.e. classes, community assembly, guest speaker sessions, executive
seminars, Dean’s talks, seated meals, and any other formal gathering) will result in a student
serving sanctions as outlined in this attendance policy.
Students with multiple instances of absence without leave (beyond their second unexcused
absence in a term) will be liable for detention and will be put into Saturday evening prep
with a school administrator.
Consistent absence will be classified as a Category 3 infraction.
Guidelines for Processing Tardiness and Absence without Leave
No. of Communications
Absences Penalty
Student Advisor Parents Year Head
per Term
Caution from Dean’s Office.
1 Student notified of detention √ √

should there be a repeat Early
infraction. Involvement
Saturday detention notice
received from Dean’s Office.
Detention effective the √

2 √
weekend immediately Offer support and follow-up
following the second on expectations
absence.
Saturday detention for two √

3 √
consecutive weekends. Discuss undesirable trend and
work on an intervention plan
Off-Campus Restriction:
Temporary ban from √
4 participating in recreational √ √ √ Meeting with
off-campus activities i.e. mall student regarding
trips, Explore Joburg etc. undesirable trend
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Email sent informing student
of meeting with the Deputy
Dean.
√
Off-campus restriction: No
5 The Academy should be concerned about a student's ability to
participation in recreational
represent the institution this point. There are likely serious
off-campus activities (as per
challenges that would need resolving.
above) and external
programmes i.e. Competitive
sports, Ex-Opps programme
Persistent attendance infractions beyond this point may result in more serious consequences
including loss of course credits, and consequently a potential failure to graduate.
More than
The University Guidance office reserves the right to communicate serious and persistent
5
patterns of truancy to prospective colleges, in the case of graduating students.
ALA applies the following rule:

Three (3) episodes of lates / tardies = 1 absence
Examples: Examples:
Warning /
Caution Letter:
1 absence
Single Saturday
Detention: 2
absences
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Double
Saturday
Detention: 3
absences
Off-Campus
Restriction: 4
absences
Off-Campus
recreational
activities only
Off-Campus
Restriction: 5
absences
Off-campus
recreational
activities,
External sports
and External
opportunities
1. Proactivity = Communication = Mature Self-Leadership
2. Know that if you commit to being present you will be able to direct more energy and focus
into the task at hand
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GENERAL CAMPUS RULES
ALA has implemented specific guidelines in order to ensure the safety for the entire ALA Community.
Failure to adhere to any of these guidelines may result in a Category 3 infraction.
Designated Areas on Campus

Students are expected to adhere to curfew hours and designated areas at all times.
After sunset all students must be in the quad area or in one of the adjoining buildings i.e., the
Learning Commons, Auditorium, Nelson Mandela Residence and the Dining hall.
Students are not allowed in the Administration block after 17:00 pm.
Students are not allowed to go to any place behind any of the mentioned buildings.
After Sunset – Designated Areas in Green for safety and security.
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Non-Smoking Campus and Open-Flame Rule
ALA is a strictly non-smoking campus and smoking of any kind on campus is a Category 3
offence. Furthermore, open flames of any kind – including those from candles – are prohibited
in all school buildings except with advance planning AND the strict supervision of qualified ALA
personnel. Fire poses a safety risk, and violation of the open-flame rule can lead to immediate
expulsion from the Academy.
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APPROPRIATE DRESSING AT ALA
We all wear different things in different situations. As an intentional community, our mode of dressing
should reflect our mission and how we hope to achieve it in our day-to-day habits and comportment. To
reinforce this, as a community we should ensure that our mode of dressing is reflective of the ALA values
- Integrity, Curiosity, Excellence, Diversity, Compassion and Humility and should guide our individual and
institutional choices including our mode of dressing.
Integrity My attire reflects the best interest of

We are people of our word, with the
the [school] community and myself.
courage to do what is right.
I learn about different cultures on the

Curiosity African continent and around the world,
We challenge the status quo and take by understanding different ways of
the initiative to pursue new ideas. dressing and relationships to one’s own
body. I try to respectfully engage
through deliberate conversations and
cultural exchanges.
I wear things to express myself; not to

Humility assert my own importance or wealth.
We are thankful for our opportunities I am thoughtful about the way that I call
and are aware of our limitations. attention to myself, and I am choiceful
about when and how to be ostentatious.
Compassion I dress in a way that balances my own

We empathize with and care for those
comfort with the comfort of those
around us.
around me. I seek to represent my own
culture, while also respecting diverse
Diversity socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
We respect all people and believe that within the ALA community.
differences should be celebrated.
My clothes are clean and neat. What I

Excellence wear reflects my aspirations as a
We set high standards for our own responsible, creative, professional, and
achievement and celebrate the respectful leader. When appropriate, I
achievements of others am ready to represent the academy
within and to the world.
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How to Align Dressing to the Values
Aligning dressing to the ALA values and philosophy requires personal responsibility and discretion. To align
with the values listed above therefore, individual members of the community should ask him/herself the
following questions:
• What, and where, am I dressing for today?

• As a member of the ALA community, am I respecting the diversity and values of the community?
In addition to personal responsibility, all members of the community, not just the Honour Council, should
feel empowered to hold others accountable to the values detailed above. Accountability should come in
the form of intentional and respectful conversations guided by the above questions, for example, such
that no party feels ashamed or attacked. The goal is to ensure that each member of our community is
thoughtful and deliberate in how they make decisions and participate in the ALA community.
Why ALA Students Have a Uniform
Unity Symbolic Access

It ensures that every person has
It unifies learners as members of It externalizes the fact that we equal access to the learning space –
a community, thereby fostering are here for school, for learning, no one feels discriminated against or
inclusivity. and for shared mission and disabled from participating in the
cause. learning experience because of their
attire.
To achieve the above, the following uniform guidelines apply:
Uniform A Uniform B
• Maroon school shirt or tunic • Track suit with ALA branded black
• Trousers T-shirt or any plain black T-shirt
• Skirts
• School blazer (only compulsory for formal occasions)
Note: ALA provides all the above for all students in Year 1 including hoodies for the cold weather. The
official hoodie is branded with the ALA logo embroidered on the upper left side.
While consideration for warmth and ease of movement are not overlooked by ALA, uniform is
associated with professionalism and must be worn as such. In cold weather, students are encouraged to
use layers of clothing to keep warm but ensure that a school-issued uniform item is what is visible on
top.
Though ALA only issues a complete set of brand new uniform items to all students in their first year, we
acknowledge that students outgrow their uniform, but we are committed to ensuring that they present
themselves decently and professionally by providing them with two options of getting uniform items that
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suit them. First, the Student Life office has a large stock of old uniform which students are encouraged to
feel free to access in exchange for uniform items that have become too small, at no financial cost to them.
Second, anyone who needs any brand-new uniform item is allowed to buy it. The process is to find out
the cost from the Student Life office, pay at Finance office, produce the evidence of payment and the
Student Life Administrator will issue the brand-new uniform to the student.
For Saturday classes, students may wear appropriate non-uniform attire. Those who are not properly
dressed, in the opinion of the faculty or administration, will be asked to change attire immediately.
Students are asked to keep in mind the following general advice when dressing for school each morning:
• Clothing should be neat and tidy and not torn; undergarments should not show.
• Excessively revealing clothing and clothing that could reasonably be construed as offensive to
another member of the community is prohibited.
• Footwear is required at all times in classroom buildings.
• Hats, visors and baseball caps must be taken off in assemblies, speeches, and classes.
• Messages, slogans and images on clothing must be appropriate for and respectful to all elements
of the diverse ALA community.
• Tattoos, body art, and unusual piercings are discouraged and should be covered or when
representing ALA at an external function.
Check your appearance before you leave – Ask yourself?

Hair Face Clothes Shoes
Do you need to recomb / brush Does it need to be Are your clothes: Are your shoes:
it? washed? Stained / dirty? Clean?
Wrinkled? In need of polish?
Holey? Shoelaces tied?
Unbuttoned / Inside
Out?
Students are encouraged to always remember that one’s appearance

is part of one’s personal brand, and our community brand as ALA.
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Student Relationships
ALA brings together young people from varied and diverse backgrounds in all regards.
This diversity is the core of our strength and vibrancy as a community. It is our
expectation that students will develop deep and long-lasting friendships with one
another. We encourage you to learn as much as you can about each other, and we
hope many of you will remain close for the rest of your lives.
As leading members of this community, we also expect you to display behaviour that
is above reproach and that recognizes respect for your peers and the rest of the
community. We therefore expect an appropriate degree of discretion in interpersonal
relationships. The strong bonds developed by students should be expressed in a way
that is reasonable, healthy and open and one that does not disrespect anyone’s cultural
background.
ALA employs a conservative approach to contact and intimacy between students

where displays of affection do not disrupt a comfortable environment for the range of
cultures represented. Displaying affection through friendly hugging and other
acceptable forms of greeting (handshakes, etc.) is allowed.
However, other displays of intimacy including, but not limited to, kissing, close lingering
body contact, sexual activity and sexual intercourse are prohibited. Students are
expected to maintain these standards both on campus as well as off campus, where
they are ambassadors for the school. Students found engaging in sexual intimacy will
face disciplinary action. Sexual intimacy is a category 3 offence and grounds for
expulsion.
Pairs of students, regardless of gender, should not be alone behind a closed door. If
studying in a room, the door must be left open. If the study group has three (3) or more
people, the door can be closed, but not locked. The only exception to this, are
roommates in their dorm room.
ALA recognizes that students represent a very wide range of previous experience,
cultural preference and personal opinion on matters of physical intimacy.
The Physical Intimacy policy described above is not intended to favour or privilege one
culture over another. Rather, these are the guidelines that enable a healthy, fulfilled
and respectful community wherein all cultures can flourish.
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Illegal Items and Behaviour
No student, irrespective of age, may use, possess, sell, purchase or
attempt to purchase any illegal or dangerous drugs, tobacco, weapons or
alcohol.
For the purposes of administering ALA rules, being in the presence of

alcohol, tobacco, weapon, or drug use will be treated as the equivalent
of using alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or drugs.
Students who have knowledge of such use are also expected to act upon
that knowledge in the spirit of peer accountability. Possession of
pornographic material or sex toys on campus is also prohibited.
Gambling and exchanges of currency are strictly prohibited.
Students may not sell any item to another student without applying for
a licence to sell (i.e. for the tuck shop or for a baked goods fundraiser on
behalf of a club) through the Entrepreneurial Leadership department.
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TECHNOLOGY POLICY
Cell Phone and Electronic Devices Policy

Students are permitted to have cell phones and electronic devices, including
headphones, but these must be turned off or on silent when outside of the
residence. If a phone rings outside of the Residence, especially in class or
assembly, it may be confiscated for a period of time, at the discretion of the
faculty in charge. In case of emergency, parents and guardians can reach
students during class times by calling the school switchboard or the
Administrator on duty phone afterhours. Cell phones may not be used in class
under any circumstances unless permission has been granted in clear terms.
Technology Acceptable Use Policy
African Leadership Academy’s computer network was created to support the educational and
professional needs of ALA students and staffulty. The use of the network is a privilege not a right. ALA
regulates the use of its network by principles consistent with applicable local, provincial and federal laws,
the educational mission of the academy, and all articulated expectations of student conduct.
This policy applies to all technology resources, including but not necessarily limited to
computers, phones, video equipment, copy machines, and information storage
devices. Students found in wilful and/or persistent violation of this policy will have their
network privileges revoked and may face further disciplinary action.
Aside from government laws, the rules for using the ALA network are fairly simple. The use
of technology, both inside and outside the classroom shall be guided by ALA’s core values
of integrity, curiosity, humility; compassion; diversity; and excellence.
ALA network users are expected and required to refrain from actions that are illegal (such
as libel, slander, vandalism, sexual harassment, theft, plagiarism, inappropriate access, and
the like), or unkind (such as personal attacks, invasion of privacy, injurious comments, and
the like). Because the academy's network resources are not unlimited, we have also
instituted other policies to preserve those resources, such placing limits on use of bandwidth
and storage space. (See “Preservation of Resources” below).
Students are welcome to bring phones and other personal technology devices but are
expected to conduct themselves as if they were using an ALA-issued device (usage is in
accordance with policies outlined in the Student and Parent Handbook). In addition,
students may not connect to the academy’s network without permission from the
technology department. All MAC addresses from any network-connecting device must be
registered with the tech department in order to gain permissible access to the academy
network.
While ALA’s Instructional Technology Department will provide technical and administrative
support to ensure that students and staffulty have access to computing resources necessary
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for academic and professional work, ALA is not responsible for transferring files, repair,
configuration, or maintenance of personally-owned equipment, nor the setup of student-
owned systems onto any ALA resources such as projectors. It is suggested that all student
files be saved to a portable USB storage device for transfer to academy owned equipment.
Incidental personal use of the academy’s technology resources must not interfere with the
community member’s performance or with the community’s ability to use the resources for
professional and academic purposes and must not violate other academy policies or
standards of behaviour. ALA’s technology department reserves the right to search the
contents of any computer that connects to the academy network through cables or Wi-Fi.
Non-exhaustive List of Unauthorized Usages and Prohibited Behaviours
Slander and Libel

In short, slander is “Oral communication of false statements injurious to a
person’s reputation.” Libel is “a false publication in writing, printing, or
typewriting or in signs or pictures that maliciously damages a person’s
reputation or the act or an instance of presenting such a statement to the
public.” (Both terms defined in The American Heritage Dictionary of the
English Language, Third Edition, Houghton Mifflin, 1992.)
In effect, students must remember that material distributed through the

Internet is “public” to a degree that no other academy publication or
utterance is. Any such remark may be seen by millions of people and
harmful and false statements will be viewed in that l i g h t .
Vandalism and Hacking

Deliberate attempts to damage the hardware, software, or information
residing on the academy network or any other computer system attached
through the Internet is strictly prohibited.
Attempts to violate the integrity of private accounts, files or programs, the

deliberate infecting of the network with a computer “virus,” attempts at
hacking into any internal or external computer systems using any method
will not be tolerated. Any attempt to make the technological infrastructure
difficult or inefficient for others to use is a direct violation of this policy.
Students may not tamper with any equipment unless employed by the
technology department to do so.
.
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Invasion of Privacy
Users of ALA’s network are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy
for their files and email. No user may have access to another’s private files.
Any attempt by users to access another user’s or the academy’s non-public
files, phone, or email messages is considered theft. Any attempts to gain
access to unauthorized resources or information, either on the computer or
telephone systems of this academy or any systems to which ALA has access,
are prohibited. The director of information technology will access the
private files or emails of users only to purge them (see “preserving
bandwidth,” below) or in the event of a suspected or proven violation of
academy rules or expectations.
Unauthorised use of software or other Intellectual Property from

any source
Laws, ethics, and common courtesy require proper handling of
intellectual property. Software is intellectual property, and, with the
exception of freeware, is illegal to use without legitimate license or
permission from its creator or licensor. All software loaded on academy-
owned computers must be approved by the academy, and ALA must own
and retain the licenses for all copyrighted software. Software loaded by
the academy onto personally owned computers and/or academy-
procured computers must also be approved by the academy. This policy
also prohibits students from using ALA-owned computer hardware for the
purpose of copying anyone else’s software. Requests for new software
should be directed to the academy’s technology department. Illegal peer-
to- peer file trafficking of copyrighted works is prohibited.
Online articles, blog posts, podcasts, videos, and wiki entries are also
intellectual property. Students should treat information found
electronically in the same way they treat information found in printed
sources—which would include properly citing sources of information and
refraining from plagiarism of any type.
Harassment
Students may not use any of ALA’s technological resources for the purposes
of harassing others, either within the ALA community or external to the
community. Foul and abusive language, the posting of obscene images or
texts, posting of information that injures or threatens another, cyber-
stalking, sexual comments or images, racial slurs, and any comments that
would offend someone on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation,
religious or political beliefs, national origin, or disability will not be tolerated.
Students may not spoof or pretend to be someone else using email, social
networking spaces, or any other technological means.
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Inappropriate Access
Students may not use the ALA network to access or publish inappropriate
materials. Inappropriate materials include adult or pornographic content,
gambling, documents encouraging violence or illegal acts, weapons, illegal
drugs, or other criminal activities. ALA uses Internet filtering software that
tracks all Internet sites visited by students. Violations of this policy are traceable
and will likely result in the forfeiture of network access and other disciplinary
action.
Abuse of Network Resources

Peer-to-peer file sharing, mass mailings, downloading of unauthorized games,
videos, and music are wasteful of limited network resources and are
forbidden. In addition, the acquisition and sharing of copyrighted materials is
illegal and unethical.
Unauthorised Printing
ALA printers are for the purpose of printing academy related documents and
assignments. Printers, like other academy resources, are to be used in a
responsible manner. Cartridges and paper, along with printer repairs and
replacement are very expensive. Therefore, the Technology Department
monitors printing by user. Print jobs deemed excessive and abusive of this
privilege may result in charges to the student’s account.
Use of ALA Technological Systems for Commercial Purposes

ALA’s technology resources may not be used for private gain or commercial
purposes.
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ACADEMIC
5 LIFE AT ALA
Our
Unique Curriculum
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CURRICULUM
The African Leadership Academy (ALA) academic curriculum is grounded in an educational philosophy
that directly serves the Academy’s mission to transform Africa into a peaceful and prosperous continent
by developing and supporting its future leaders.
Our Educational Philosophy
Life-Long Learning through Experience and Practice

ALA believes that sustained long-term learning is achieved through cycles of
authentic experience, deliberate practice and reflection. The ALA staffulty strives
to embed this learning cycle across curricular and co-curricular activities such that
students become independently proficient and confident life-long learners.
Empowering Entrepreneurial Leadership

Entrepreneurial leadership lies at the core of ALA’s program and underpins the
development of a mind-set in each student to generate and sustain positive
meaningful change on the African continent and beyond.
Embedded Essential Skills, Habits & Mind-Sets

Throughout the ALA curriculum, we seek to explicitly identify and embed a high
standard of transferable core skills and mind-sets that support and sustain
leadership. These consistently include habits of mind and approaches to problem
solving.
The Power of Shared Culture & Community

With our residential program at its core, ALA believes in the importance of igniting
and sustaining long-term pan African relationships through a robust and wide
network of diverse stakeholders.
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Our Academic Curriculum
ALA combines a world-class

international faculty and unique
instructional methods to create a strong
Humanities student-centred academic curriculum.
Mathematics Rooted in ALA’s two-year core
Sciences programmes of Entrepreneurial
French  Arts Leadership, African Studies and Writing
and Rhetoric, the curriculum provides a
Entrepreneurial robust foundation designed to empower
Leadership young leaders with the knowledge and
inspiration they need to take action as
agents of positive change on the African
African Writing &
continent.
Studies Rhetoric
In addition, students individually select
from a rich array of externally and
internally designed elective courses in the Humanities, Sciences, French and Creative Arts, which uniquely
prepare them for leadership and tertiary study on the African continent and beyond. Externally designed
programmes include a variety of Cambridge Advanced International Examination (CAIE) AS and A-levels
courses. ALA's Academic program is widely accepted as proof of academic preparedness for entry into
outstanding universities across Africa and around the world.
Two-Year Progression
.
First Year: A Multidisciplinary Curriculum
During the first year of studies, each student takes a range of multidisciplinary courses
designed to highlight connections across disciplines and build deep knowledge within
individual subjects of choice. All students study the core offerings of Writing & Rhetoric,
Mathematics, Entrepreneurial Leadership and African Studies, which includes a first-
term interdisciplinary foundations course. In addition, students choose two additional
electives from a combination of internally designed and CAIE courses in the Humanities,
Sciences, French and Creative Arts.
Second Year: Academic Focus Subjects

In the second year, students continue with the core offerings of Writing & Rhetoric,
Entrepreneurial Leadership and African Studies. They may opt to continue with a
higher Mathematics class in the second year or continue a combination of other
higher-level courses. Students who demonstrate sufficient capability are able to
take additional research classes in the Sciences, Humanities, and Creative Arts or
in International Relations. The academy also supports its broader elective offerings
with courses from the well-established Global Online Academy (GOA) program.
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Graduation Requirements and External Qualifications
ALA has academic requirements for all students to ensure that every graduate attains the skills necessary
to succeed as a leader on the African continent. A credit system is used to quantify student achievement
throughout the curriculum and determine graduation eligibility. A typical course has two (2) credits for
the year. Some courses offer students 1 credit.
The minimum graduation requirements for the ALA Diploma include the following components (27
credits):
• Two-year Entrepreneurial Leadership sequence (8 credits)
• Two-year African Studies sequence (4 credits)
• Two-year Writing and Rhetoric sequence (4 credits)
• Two-year Health and Wellness sequence (1 credit)
• Mathematics (2 credits)
• Elective requirements from a combination of internally designed or CAIE courses in the
Humanities, Sciences, French and Creative Arts the (8 credits)
Example:
Year 1 Year 2
Course Credit Course Credit
Entrepreneurial Leadership I 4 Entrepreneurial Leadership II 4
African Studies I 2 African Studies II 2
Writing and Rhetoric I 2 Writing and Rhetoric II 2
Wellness I 0.5 Wellness II 0.5
Mathematics 2 Mathematics 2
CAIE Course / Internal Course / 2 CAIE Course / Internal Course / GOA 2
GOA
CAIE Course / Internal Course / 2 CAIE Course / Internal Course / GOA 2
GOA
Total Credits: Year 1 14.5 Total Credits: Year 2 14.5
Credits at Graduation: 29
In order to prepare for entry into universities across Africa and around the world, students will complete
an array of external qualification exams.
Academic requirements are necessary but not sufficient for an ALA diploma. Other requirements include
Seminal Readings and ALA Thesis.
Students who are unable to meet the minimum requirements will not be awarded and ALA diploma.
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COURSE CATALOGUE
The annual course catalogue contains all the necessary information about academic courses and
graduation requirements.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
As one of ALA’s core values, we place a high premium on academic integrity and train students to
rigorously adhere to honest and responsible scholarship. We expect students to submit work that is
honest and original in nature. Where external sources or assistance are used in any aspect of the work,
credit must be appropriately acknowledged. Teachers must provide students with a learning environment
that discourages breaches of academic integrity and ensure that students understand the meaning of
plagiarism and of cheating, as well as the importance of integrity to one’s leadership development.
Students, likewise, are expected to practice integrity by taking responsibility for doing their work without
unauthorized aid. ALA adopts the Modern Language Association (MLA) format for citations and students
are coached in its use during the early stages of our program.
For more on academic integrity and the Academy’s response to infractions, please refer Discipline section
of this Handbook on page 66.
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
ALA’s faculty comprises outstanding, innovative teachers from across Africa and around the world. Some
are lifelong teachers and scholars, while others have worked as practitioners in their fields or as leaders
and entrepreneurs in the fields of science, business, and public service. All ALA faculty members share a
belief that young people can change the world. They lead provocative, interactive classroom discussions
and support independent exploration into topics of interest. They help ALA students turn their dreams
into reality.
At ALA all students are exposed to innovative teaching methods that help them develop the skills to
question, analyse, create and take action throughout their lives. As much as possible, courses at the
Academy are taught following a discussion-based approach. Classroom tables are typically arranged in a
circular fashion to allow students to see each other and converse, rather than the conventional traditional
classroom format with rows of tables facing an instructor.
Our teachers often assume the role of guides, rather than lecturers in the learning process, and seek to
draw out the varying perspectives of the young leaders they coach. This approach to learning gives each
student the opportunity to hear and understand a broad range of perspectives on challenging issues.
Students are expected to actively engage in the discussion-based learning process.
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STUDENT SUPPORT STRUCTURES
The Academy was founded to develop future leaders for Africa. Becoming a conscientious and effective
leader is not an overnight task, neither is it a solitary achievement. Each student’s leadership skills and
capabilities will be honed and developed over the course of his or her ALA career by many advisors,
mentors and role models. When students arrive at ALA, they become part of a development “team” - a
group of people who take an active interest in their long-term development as leaders.
Advisory Programme
ALA aims to produce students who are, among other things, autodidactic and ethical.
We want students to own their leadership journeys and possess a clear set of morals
they use to reflect on their behaviour and guide future action. The Advisory Program
is essential to the realization of these traits and core to the mission of the academy.
Faculty advisors oversee a family of 6-7 students from either the Year 1 or Year 2 class.
These families, diverse in nationality, age, religions, sex, and gender, form the
foundational units of the ALA’s larger community. Advisees form strong bonds within
these families and use their relationships to process their experiences and interrogate
their own sense of purpose and values. The advisor cares for each of their advisees,
providing them with personalized coaching and mentorship and ensures they can
navigate the institution with ease. Staff advisors (usually 3-4 per family) complement
the role of the faculty advisor.
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Objectives of Advisory Programme:
Through the advisory program, advisees will have...
1. A caring, capable, committed faculty coach who can help set goals and devise strategies to achieve
these.
2. A knowledgeable and resourceful ecosystem coach who can help the advisee navigate the ALA
ecosystem
3. A space where she/he can feel comfortable exploring and processing unfamiliar ideas and emotions.
4. A close-knit community of peers from various social groups with whom to explore and deepen their
commitment to ALA’s mission and culture.
Residential Faculty
Residential faculty live in the dormitories to offer support to students, and to
ensure that students have a safe and coherent residential experience at the
Academy, with adequate adult supervision. They lead the dormitories under
the guidance of the Deputy Heads of Residence and the Head of Residence.
(For more information, see Section 6 : Residential Life.)
Residential Assistants & Peer Counsellors

These are selected student leaders who live on each hall and are trained to
provide social counselling support and guidance to peers. (For more
information, see Section V: Residential Life)
Year Group Advisors

Each year group is assigned to a Year Head, whose aim is to be the overseer of
the wellbeing of the year group as a whole. The Year Heads play a critical role
in coordinating and marshalling support functions to enable the success of each
student in their year group. In the 2022-2023 School Year, our Year Heads are
Keabetswe Marumo (Year 1) and Maya Schkolne (Year 2).
Faculty Support during Office Hours

In addition to regular class interaction with faculty, students should take
advantage of the office hours each faculty member will hold on a Wednesday
afternoon and outside of normal class time. Office hours are a valuable time
when students can stop by, share thoughts or questions on a subject, learn
more about topics that interest them, receive personalized attention for their
academic progress, and get to know their teachers better.
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WORKLOAD AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Students at ALA have been selected because they have the potential to accomplish great things, yet this
requires hard work. ALA students can expect to be challenged from the moment they arrive on campus.
They should allot and plan for a minimum of 18 hours per week for out of class preparation and
personal study time. Schoolwork at the Academy is designed to be rigorous and thought provoking and
can often include group-based work. Given the additional demands of sports, extracurricular activities
and long-term projects, students will need to learn to plan ahead and manage their own workload and
commitments in order to meet classroom expectations while fulfilling their obligations to others outside
of class. Time management skills will be taught in entrepreneurial leadership classes and emphasized by
study skills and wellness classes.
EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES (ExOpps)
ExOpps are typically programmes and events which allow participants to enrich their knowledge or
experience in an area of interest related to a future career, or which enable exposure to experiences
crucial for their leadership development.
There are two kinds of ExOpps - those that are offered by the institution and those that are individually
sourced. An individually sourced ExOpp will be reviewed and approved by the Deputy Deans. In all cases,
a formal sign-out procedure is completed by a student to attend an ExOpp.
The sign-out procedure for ExOpps is as follows:
Opportunities found by students must also be shared with the Deputy Dean and Year
Heads and will be processed by a Student Life Administrator.
The student obtains the Class Absence form from the Student Life Administrator and
takes it to the Year Head for Approval. The Year Head checks to ensure that all subjects
missed are duly entered on the form.
The student then visits responsible faculty in each class she or he would miss, to note
recommendations for making up work done in the period of absence.
The student returns the sign-out forms to the Student Life Department at least 48 hours
prior to the date of the ExOpp, to ensure processing.
Students need to be proactive about making up any missed work; teachers monitor the student
closely to ensure that outstanding work is covered, and related tasks completed.
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The maximum number of days permitted out of class per student for ExOpps in a year
is 5 days. This limit is imposed to safeguard students from struggles to catch up on too
many missed classes. This limit ensures that students are not missing out on so much
as to affect them negatively. This is important in view of the impact of missed class
and the difficulty of catching up.
OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH EXTERNAL PARTIES
Academy students are able to take advantage of unique opportunities to engage with and learn from
active leaders and entrepreneurs who are at the top of their fields in the “real world.” These unique
developmental opportunities may come in the form of executive seminars, interactions with guest
speakers, meals with the Dean or the Academy’s founders, or conferences taking place around the world.
When these opportunities present themselves, students should strive to take full advantage of them by
doing background research well in advance, by preparing questions and comments for guests, and by
thinking critically about their own developmental objectives.
Guests and Visits to ALA

ALA receives many guests to campus on a daily basis. The Academy prides itself on projecting the African
tradition of warmly welcoming guests and making them feel at home. Students are expected to always be
conscious that the campus outside of the Residence is a public place and that they must be properly
attired and presentable. ALA students have a culture of stopping to greet all guests to campus and are
never “too busy” to introduce themselves and make our guests feel at home. Visitors to campus leave
with indelible impressions and a strong connection to the campus, the students, and ALA’s mission.
General Informative Visits: This category of visits is the broadest, and can range from a simple
introductory visit, to specific themed visits, interim visits by funders as part of their reporting schedule,
and visits from those who may eventually donate to ALA or develop another mutually beneficial
relationship.
Distinguished Guest Series (DGS): Held regularly, the DGS aims to attract luminaries from across the
African continent, whose personal stories or professional successes are aligned to ALA’s mission and core
values.
Executive Seminars: These visits are intimate seminars between speakers and students, held regularly
throughout the academic year. These visits require student sign-up and cater to a broad variety of student
interests. Seminars may also take place during class time to provide additional depth and scope to topics
being treated in the subject area.
Media
Photographs and filming
ALA hosts many media visitors and students will go through media training to prepare them for various
interactions. Visitors often take pictures and videos of students, or of particular events. The department
leading the visit will ensure the signing of any indemnity forms in order to protect students involved, and
such students will be given the necessary guidance before an interview. Students have the right to refuse
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to be photographed and filmed. For any interview, a member of the relevant department is always
present.
Visits initiated by students will be managed through the Deans office.
Talking to the Press

At all times, regardless of how urgent or innocent the situation may be, students must seek and obtain
approval from the Dean of the Academy before speaking to the Press.
Student Ambassadors
Each year any student may apply to become an Ambassador and thereby serve as “the face” of the
Academy. This prestigious position is open to all students who will submit a written application and then
attend a personal interview. The Ambassadors will function to welcome guests, host meals, give campus
tours, and guide guests through the schedule of their visit, including taking them to class with them
amongst other roles. Ambassadors aim to leave our visitors with a lasting impression of our young leaders,
and hopefully inspire future visits and further engagement. The following are a few of the broad categories
of visits to campus.
LIFE AT ALA: DURING AND AFTER
At ALA, our goal is to holistically empower students and provide them with the necessary skills to ensure
they excel within any field they chose and are successful in their future plans. During the programme
students receive University and College Guidance and as their journey doesn’t end at graduation day - we
continue to provide mentoring and networking opportunities thereafter.
University Guidance
Our University Support team is dedicated to ensuring that all ALA graduates who
choose to go on to University after ALA transition smoothly into their university
life and new community. Our dedicated Peer Support program ensures that many
ALA graduates who arrive at a new university campus are connected to an ALA
graduate who is already there and who can help introduce them to the ALA and
broader university community on campus and act as their “buddy” or mentor
during that critical first year when they are settling in.
In addition, every ALA Graduate at university is matched one-to-one with a

member of the University Support Team whose role is to ensure that they thrive
academically, socially and emotionally while at university.
The team is available at all times for individual check-ins with all ALA graduates at
university.
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Campus Employment
The Campus Jobs program helps students develop workplace readiness while
also enabling them to earn funds for basic necessities. Preference for
positions is given to students of high financial need. The program is largely
student-led, with a small student leadership team managing the rest of the
group. Positions range from interning with the Creative Arts department to
setting up sound equipment for weekly assemblies to managing the school’s
gym. Students are expected to work with excellence and integrity and are
paid monthly for their services.
Career Guidance
The Academy is well-placed – with its cohesive network of students, families,
mentors, donors, corporate sponsors, and friends – to assist both recent
university graduates and current ALA students in sourcing excellent
internship and job opportunities across the African continent. Career
counsellors with ALA’s “Africa Careers Network” team will help both students
and alumni think through long-term career goals and trade-offs or difficult
decisions they will have to make. They will also help students and alumni get
in touch with other members of the ALA network to learn more about
different career fields and to get perspectives and advice from people
working in those fields.
Internships and Gap Year Opportunities

ALA’s mission is predicated on enabling young leaders to gain and maintain
access to opportunities for realizing and multiplying their desired impact on
the African continent. For most, university will remain a crucial gateway to
further opportunities. As such, ALA expects that the majority of graduates
will enrol at institutions of higher learning upon leaving ALA. Some students
may choose to pursue non -tertiary opportunities after ALA; they will receive
structured support to this end. Nevertheless, every student who completes
ALA’s diploma program must leave with the credentials for accessing
university, and tools to be successful upon arrival.
ALA Alumni Engagement and the ALA Network

Our ALA Alumni Engagement program ensures that ALA Graduates are
connected to the ALA Network in a variety of different ways after leaving
the Academy. A number of ALA Graduates in different parts of the world
regularly bring the community together via Mini Indabas, get-togethers and
events. Over the next 5 years, the ALA Network is going to be organised
around a number of different sectors or “Grand Challenges” such as
Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Women’s Empowerment,
Environmental Sustainability, Natural Resource Management, etc. These
will bring together all the members of the wider ALA Network to work
together to address Africa’s greatest challenges.
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RESIDENTIAL
6 LIFE
Making a Home at
ALA
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RESIDENCE MISSION
ALA believes in creating a home away from home, safe environment for our students in our
Residence. There are twelve halls in total, six for each gender. The Residence is staffed by a
team of staff and faculty. Each hall is managed by a Hall Head and the Deputy Head of
Residence oversees four halls. The Hall Head, together with student leadership in the halls,
follows a monthly curriculum aimed at building strong and supportive communities within
the halls. This develops the leadership and personal skills needed for students of diverse
cultures to live together in harmony. The Residence is supported by key Health and Wellness
personnel who include the Matron and the Residential Counsellor to help in caring for
students and meeting their psycho-social and physiological needs.
In order to ensure that the residence is organized towards meeting the objectives of the
program, each Hall of residence consists of:
• 1 Deputy Head of Residence (who oversees a total of 4 Halls)

• 1 Hall Head
• 1 Residential Assistant (Student Leader)
• 2 Peer Counsellors (Student Leaders)
• A cluster of student representatives who help in coordinating different operations
of the Hall
• A maximum of 22 students
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RESIDENTIAL GOALS
The Residential programme aims to position students to learn specific skills and concepts
that will serve them in the ALA community and beyond, namely:
• Learning Leadership of Self (Self-Regulation; Self-knowledge)

• Building Executive Function & Study Skills
• Fostering Health & Wellbeing (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) through
building healthy habits (sleep, exercise, diet, reflection
• Building impeccable personal hygiene habits (clean body; clean space)
• Living in community as a productive citizen (empathy, collaboration,
communication)
• Experiencing a sense of belonging and building it for others
• Leading others with accountability
In the different Halls of residence and in Student Life in general, there are diverse as well as standard
activities that enable the coming together of Residents to celebrate, enjoy and learn from each other.
Comfort
Welcoming and settling the returning and new classes, and ensuring all students feel
at home away from their homes. In this manner students are able to rest and develop
healthy routines to make them the most productive when they go to class and engage
as part of an active and exciting community. This is a focus for the first half of the first
term.
Communication
It is the aim of the Academy to build strong bonds between students, through
speaking and sharing together at every stage of their journey. The students learn
to share difficulties and challenges, as well as successes and rewards so as to learn
how to develop themselves and learn about others. This is strengthened within the
context of hall meetings, the “my story” series, house activities and exercises and
through competitions such as the Battle of the Axe and the Battle of the Mask.
Closure
Students are guided to learn skills in ending relationships, activities, projects, habits
and conversations in a healthy and productive manner.
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RESIDENTIAL BEHAVIOUR POLICY
Overview
The Academy aims to provide students with a comfortable, positive and enjoyable environment in which
to live and learn. We hope students regard the campus as a home away from home during their time at
ALA and treat the campus with the same respect they would treat their family’s home and belongings.
Residential Faculty
Residential faculty members are a critical component of the community ALA builds around each student.
Residential faculty members live in the dormitories with students. The role of residential faculty at ALA is
to ensure the general well-being and safety of students by creating a meaningful and comfortable
residential experience. Residential faculty are expected to be active in the lives of students in the
dormitories and provide mentorship support for residential assistants (RAs) in carrying out their
administrative responsibilities. They also lead at least one hall meeting per month, planning hall social
events, setting and monitoring hall regulations and behavioural expectations. Students should feel at
ease to speak with their residential faculty about their concerns ranging from academic to personal ones.
Many will find that the proximity of their living situation will result in a close bond with the Hall Heads.
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RESIDENTIAL PROCEDURES
Cleanliness
Students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms, including making their beds, mopping the floor
and cleaning of their spaces and cupboards. Students should keep the community bathrooms clean at all
times. ALA hires a private company to maintain the hygiene and cleanliness of the Residence and the
campus. This company will organize the laundering of bed linen and towels; they will do a deep clean of
the bathrooms at regular intervals as determined by the Operations Manager and wash the floors and
walls of the hallways. It is not their job to tidy up after students.
Cleaning of Students’ Rooms and Bathrooms Dorm Clean

As a way of enabling students to learn clean living All students follow a community-building monthly
habits, students are responsible for cleaning their dorm cleaning exercise to develop good living
own rooms. To encourage the habit, rooms are skills.
inspected by the matron, Hall Head, Deputy Head
of Residence and RAs on a regular basis. A monthly dorm clean is designed to teach
students how to maintain hygiene and safety in
All students are required to maintain a high level their rooms and with their personal belongings
of hygiene in their rooms, not only for their own and clothing.
sakes, but also the sake of their roommates. Any
room that is found to be dirty three consecutive Students must maintain a tidy and hygienic room
times will be reported to the Honour Council and and bathroom. Cupboards and shelves must be
the student(s) concerned may undergo wiped down with a wet cloth, organic waste
disciplinary action. removed promptly, laundry washed and placed
back in cupboards neatly; walls should be kept
Students who consistently refuse to join others clean and academic materials kept current and
during cleaning will be reported for disciplinary tidy.
action, which includes forfeiture of opportunity to
go on an Explore Joburg or mall trip.
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Love where you Live – Keep your Room Clean!
Do you know the names of the staff who you see every day who
help you live a clean and hygienic life?
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Other:
Dorm Security
Every student is issued a room key. Students are expected to safeguard keys and
report immediately to the head of security if they are missing.
Electronics and Appliances

Students may keep their own laptops, iPods, or other electronic devices in their rooms.
However, under no circumstances may students bring personal kitchen appliances
such as refrigerators, kettles, hotplates, non-ALA issued light fixtures or toasters to
their rooms or to the common area in the dormitory. As a means of ensuring that
dormitories are as much like home as possible, each hall is provided with a fridge,
microwave oven and electric kettles. Students are required to make responsible use of
these appliances as failure to do so may lead to their being removed. Students must
not use electric blankets. Heaters are provided for the winter months. Violating any
of these arrangements will be regarded as a Category 3 offence because it puts other
occupants of the dormitory in danger.
Dorm Visits
Individual students are never allowed to visit the dormitories of the opposite gender.
Doing so is strictly prohibited and grounds for disciplinary action. Students are
expected and encouraged to socialize in common areas, such as the quad, dining hall,
Learning Commons and student lounges. Occasionally, brother/sister halls organise
activities that involve visiting the hall of the opposite gender to engage in activities
that will promote the ALA value of respect for other people’s beliefs and spaces.
These visits are done with the full consent and participation of the Hall Heads and
Deputy Heads of Residence to ensure that students do not take undue advantage of
such visits.
Hosting Guests on Campus

As a co-educational Pan-African boarding school, ALA is home to all her students and
provides a welcoming environment for all. One of ALA’s forte is the ability to attract guests
who want to learn more about what we do, or who want to share their dreams, discoveries,
skills etc. with the students.
Due to the fact that people travel from far and near for this purpose, and because our
students are treated as under 18 by our Child Protection Policy, it is important to have a
guideline in place for how and when guests can stay in residence with our students, to
guarantee their safety and protect their rights as children.
We also have the responsibility of ensuring that the dormitory is a safe space for students
– a place where at the end of each day, they can be free, relax and put up their feet without
the feeling that a stranger might be in their space. 101
Individuals Eligible to Stay in the Dormitory Individuals NOT Eligible to Stay in the Dormitory
Visiting schools that are in partnership with ALA Students’ family members and friends
Due to the nature of the visits, and the identical ages
of the visitors with our students, visitors are paired ALA alumni who graduated less than two years before
with students to whom they play host and room the time of proposed stay.
together with.
Programme guests e.g. Anzisha Fellows and ALA

alumni
In this case, the fellows and alumni will, under no

circumstance share the same room with students.
Potential speakers/innovators
Please note: As ALA is not under obligation to house
these individuals, being able to stay in the dormitory
is subject to availability of space.
Prep
ALA believes in the system of deliberate practice. This, together with the
recommended number of self-study hours offered by the CAIE, forms the
foundation of the self-study programme, commonly called prep. Two hours,
Sunday to Thursday are dedicated to this programme to allow students to develop
good study habits, give time for homework and provide time for reflection on the
day’s learning so as to reinforce or clarify the teaching. This programme is
monitored by a team of dedicated faculty and is essential for students to manage
the workload and succeed with the academic programme.
Check In
Students will be checked into their halls by student RAs from Sunday through to
Thursday at 10 pm and Fridays, Saturdays, School breaks and holidays at 10:30
pm.
This implies that all students must have been sighted by their RA before the
moment of the check-in time. Students should note that they are prohibited from
opening any external doors between 10:30 pm and 5:00 am. External doors are
to be used only in an emergency after check-in. Opening external doors at this
period or pressing the emergency button when there is no need for it are
considered Category 3 offences for endangering the safety and security of others.
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Sleepovers
In order to ensure the safety and security of students at all times, students are not
allowed to swap rooms or sleep over in another student’s room. Doing this is a
breach of security and will be regarded as a Category 3 offence. RAs are to report
anyone who breaks this rule to the Hall Head who will ensure that the issue is
escalated appropriately. Under certain circumstances of physical or emotional
distress, the Deputy Head of Residence, acting on the advice of the Resident
Counsellor, can authorise a sleepover. Where the distressed student sleeps will be
determined by the Resident Counsellor and the Deputy Heads of Residence.
Common Space and Appliances

Students are required to use the common spaces in their halls decently. The
furniture should remain there and not be moved to students’ rooms. The common
space is not an alternative to students’ rooms, so students are not to sleep there.
The microwave, kettle, sinks etc. are to be used and kept decently. The fridge in
each hall is meant to serve all hall members; students should therefore bear this
in mind when buying food items so that everyone has the opportunity to use the
space in the fridge. Though each hall is provided with a TV set, students are not to
watch it during school hours. Students are to treat common spaces and the items
there with respect. Not keeping hall appliances clean may lead to them being
withdrawn from the hall.
Quiet Time
Students are asked to be respectful and sensitive of others sharing their living
environment. Students must keep voices low after 10:30 pm in the dormitories
so as not to disturb others who may be sleeping or studying. Movement
between halls is strictly prohibited after 10:30 pm while movement between
rooms is discouraged. This is disturbing for students who wish to sleep or
study at night; all movements create noise.
Students should be proactive with any needs they have before check-in time.
Students should settle down to prepare for sleep or study after this time.
Residential faculty members on duty may perform random room checks to
verify that students are present in their rooms. Quiet time begins at 11:00 pm.
There should be absolute silence in all halls from this time until 05:00 am.
Breaching the Quiet Time rule and movements between halls after 11:00 pm
will be viewed as a Category 2 offence for which a student will have to appear
before the Honour Council.
Should a student need to go to another hall after 10:30 pm, such a student
must proactively obtain approval from the Deputy Head of Residence who will
communicate this to the RA. The student must be back in his/her room by 11:00
pm.
103
Late-Night Programming
At ALA students are sometimes unable to meet for particular activities during the day due to class subject
variation or differing extra-curricular interests. Nonetheless, they sometimes need to engage in activities
beyond the normal check-in time, either to practice for upcoming activities or to spend time together as
a group during breaks and holidays. For security purposes, approval for such activities must be obtained
from the Head of Residence at least 48 hours in advance. The following guidelines will apply:
Cultural Exchange and Plays

• Practice can be up to a maximum of 3 times in a week for 3 weeks
(9 sessions in all).
• Request permission to rehearse beyond check-in time copying the
Student Life Administrator at cnakazwe@africanleadershipacademy.org
to ensure that the residential faculty members on duty are notified of the
practice.
• Check in with your RA before you leave for rehearsal.
• Make a list of participants and submit it to the residential faculty
members on duty each night.
• Be back for final check-in by 10.25 pm. An extension to this time will not
be granted, as it is important that students have adequate rest each night.
Movie Night and Similar Functions

• Find male and female chaperones who will stay with you throughout the
movie and obtain their consent in writing at least 48 hours in advance.
• Copy the chaperones on all correspondence with the Head of Residence
• Obtain permission at least 48 hours in advance, copying the chaperones
and the Student Life Administrator on the email.
• The Head of Residence notifies the Security office of the activity.
• The student coordinating the activity must set clear expectations that
once the movie starts, everyone remains at the venue until it ends.
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DINING HALL
At ALA we believe a healthy body enables a healthy mind. We take pride in

offering students a balanced diet of three main meals and three intermediate
snacks. Our selections have been proportionally designed and selected by a
nutritionist to meet the heavy demands of the daily activities. This includes a
careful balance of food groups and variety of tastes.
We provide the following types of meals to cater for our diverse community:
halal-friendly meal, vegetarian option, vegan option, and all special dietary
needs (e.g. food intolerance or allergy). Special meals are organized to celebrate
various occasions, including religious and cultural holidays and festivals.
Students should eat all meals in the dining hall and refrain from removing cutlery
and crockery. Taking dining hall items into Residence Halls will be considered
a Category 2 offence for which a student will appear before the Honour
Council. For use in dorms and halls, students must provide their own plates,
cups and cutlery.
Respecting Others and Things in Common Shared Spaces

How do you like to find your table when you sit to eat?
Is that how you left the table after you finished eating?
Did you use something that someone else, maybe you tomorrow, will use?
Did you return it, or are you relying on someone else to put it back for you?
105
STUDENT LEADERSHIP IN THE RESIDENCE
In Residential Life specifically, objectives about habits, self- leadership, hygiene, living in community and
leading others are taught and held up through the communal living and sharing of physical spaces.
Apart from the Facilities management, Safety, Health and Environmental protocols set and led by
Boarding staff, the Student: Adult partnership enables for students to be held accountable for their space,
time and contribution to their Halls of Residence, while encouraging student-centred peer accountability
measures to provide consistent reminders and processes for:
• Fostering health & wellbeing (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) through building healthy
habits (sleep, exercise, diet, reflection, etc.)
• Building impeccable personal hygiene habits (clean body; clean space)
• Living in community as a productive citizen (empathy, collaboration, communication)
• Experiencing a sense of belonging and building it for others
• Leading others with accountability
Culture of the Halls
Hall identity and norms are celebrated across the Residence and each Hall prides itself in continuing
practices that activate and demonstrate the most of the learning objectives about. It is based on this
strong cultural desire and effort that the Disciplinary Council is moving to instate Hall-based disciplinary
sanctions against entire Halls with members that are viewed to be behaving in contravention of the
cultural elements that uphold the learning objectives.
Much of what students learn about themselves is learnt through structured and unstructured interactions
with their peers from around the world. The ALA curriculum heavily utilizes team-based projects and peer
learning and coaching to facilitate this process of learning from each other. There are multiple
opportunities for students to take leadership roles in the residential curriculum and life on campus. These
leaders are invaluable to the Residential community and help to facilitate cooperation and comfort.
106
Residential Assistants
Rising second-year students may apply to serve as residential assistants (RAs) in the dormitories. After
completing a training programme in residential leadership and coaching/counselling, these selected
leaders help incoming first-year students with orientation and support them during their transition to ALA
life. These RAs serve as a link between their hall peers, residential faculty, and the Pastoral Care
Department. They are also responsible for the accountability of other student leaders on the hall in
guaranteeing that expectations are met. Their duties include helping with prep and evening check-in,
facilitating hall meetings, planning activities for the hall, and helping with records and maintenance needs.
RAs are vital in providing a comfortable, safe, clean and enjoyable environment for students on campus.
Peer Counsellors
Rising second-year students may apply to serve as peer counsellors (PCs). After completing a programme
in coaching/counselling, they will serve as student advisors for incoming first-year students and be
available for emotional and mental support of their peers. Each incoming student will be paired with a PC
on their hall who will act as a big brother or sister and assist in their transition to and continued success
at ALA. PCs also assist in the monitoring and implementation of the supervised study programme for first-
year students. PCs work closely with the Student Life and Wellness Departments conducting health
workshops within the dorms and outside in a sustained effort to promote the well-being of their peers.
Hall Officers
Many roles that are shared among other members of the hall are assigned at the beginning of each school
year. Some of these may be held for a full term, full year, or may rotate more often. These roles include
entertainment representative, facilities manager, health and hygiene monitor, and hall meeting
coordinator. Each of these positions, among others, allow students to take ownership of the Residence,
and it is the combined efforts of all student leaders in each hall that lead to a positive, healthy
environment for the community at large.
107
RESIDENCE FACILITIES
Bed Linen
The school will provide all the bed linen, which is changed and laundered weekly
by ALA. If they so wish, students can bring at least 2 sets of their own linen and it
is expected that they will change and wash this linen weekly. In order to keep an
accurate linen inventory and linen change record, once a student chooses to use
their own linen, they will not be issued with school linen.
Maintain a clean set of linens by participating in the linen change (as organized by
your hall) each week. Keeping your bed neat and clean will dramatically improve
your quality of sleep (and life!) while also forming the cornerstone of a clean room.
Missing linen change several weeks in a row will plunge your room (and sleep!)
into an unpleasant and unhealthy spiral of messiness.
Laundry
While the residential cleaning staff will launder bed linen, students will be
responsible for cleaning and laundering their own clothing. Washing and drying
machines are available in the dormitories for student use. While using the washing
machine is free, the drying machines require two R2 and R5 coins (payable by
students). Drying lines are available behind the Residence. Irons are provided on
each hall. Students are also required to buy their own washing detergent, which is
available from the campus store.
Campus Store – Emmanuel’s Emporium

Emmanuel’s Emporium, the campus store, started by Emmanuel Manirakiza, is open
in the residence and stocks all the essential products a student needs to live on
campus, at cost price, with no mark up.
108
FACILITIES CLEANLINESS AND CARE
We are lucky to live, learn and work on a beautiful campus with fantastic facilities. We are also lucky to
have a facilities team that does its best to keep our home clean and running smoothly. As a community
we have an obligation to care for this place and the things that complete it. The following transgressions
are disrespectful and unkind habits that do not live up to the ALA standard. We should each hold ourselves
(and others) to account when we share our space.
Respect your Room Food

At the end of each year the facilities team does Food lives in the dining hall or in your belly – do
their best to return each dorm room to the not leave it sitting around unaccounted for. If you
pristine state in which it begins the year. leave uneaten food lying around it will not
This includes repairing any damaged furniture, magically disappear. Instead, it will begin to
repainting walls damaged by Prestik and tape and decompose and only become more unpleasant to
removing waste that was left behind. clean up. There should be no organic waste
Avoid doing anything in your room or leaving whatsoever outside your garbage bin. Any dry or
anything behind that will permanently affect the non-perishable food should be kept in sealed and
experience of students who come after you or neat containers. Perishable food items can be
create unnecessary work for the facilities team. kept in the communal fridge but must be
discarded once past their expiration date.
Respect Yourself, Respect Others,

Respect Your Community
109
Commitment
At the end of orientation, Students will be required to sign and agree to abide by ALA's rules.
Parents will be requested to provide their signed declaration prior to the student’s arrival via Docu-Sign.
I have READ AND UNDERSTOOD the content of this Handbook in conjunction with my parents / guardians:
Student Name
Parent / Guardian 1 Name:
Parent / Guardian 2 Name:
and promise that I and my parents/guardians will be guided by the Handbook and the Honour Code
throughout my course of study at ALA.
Parent / Guardian 1 Signature: Date:
Parent / Guardian 2 Signature: Date:
Student Signature: Date:
110
7 ADDENDUMS
Important to Know
111
Additional Security & Safety Guidelines
Violent Crime Emergencies

If possible, always be aware of your surroundings. Being aware of a situation
dramatically increases your chances to avoid becoming a victim. If you do fall prey to
attackers, the aim is that everyone survives the crime. Accept the fact that, in general,
people may lose valuable possessions, yet life is much more important.
Confrontation by Hijackers / Armed Robbers / Attack

If confronted, alert security and any responsible adult from the ALA community
Who? immediately or as soon as possible.
How? What? Answer the 5Ws and 1H questions whilst reporting the incident:
o Who is involved?
o What has happened?
o Where did it happen?
Why? Where? o When did it happen?
o Why has it happened?
When? o How did it happen?
Most Important:
• Do not take careless risks; it’s not worth it.
• Do not look the attackers in the eyes unless instructed to do so.
• Do not lose your temper, threaten or challenge the
hijackers/robbers/attackers.
• Do exactly as told by the hijackers/robbers/attackers as far as possible.
• Surrender the vehicle or valuables and move away.
• Preferably move to well-lit areas or areas where you are likely to find help.
• Answer any questions truthfully; if the hijacker/robber discovers or
suspects that you have lied to him he is more likely to turn violent.
• Make your hands visible to the hijackers/robbers and make slow
movements.
• Gather as much information as possible without posing a threat (number
of attackers, what are they wearing, their ages and any facial and physical
features, unique features, e.g. scars, get-away vehicles and registration
details, direction they fled).
In short remember CSC:

o C - Comply with demands and instructions
o S - Seek shelter as soon as the attacker has left you. Move to a
populated area and ask for assistance e.g. at a shop or other places
of safety.
o C - Communicate as soon as you are able to with the authorities
and contact the ALA AOD number.
112
Medical Emergencies
In the event of any medical emergency, contact the on-duty nurse/Matron or
Administrator on Duty (AOD) immediately on 0718583936. The nurse or AOD will
contact the emergency medical services. You can ensure quick arrival of trained
emergency personnel by providing the necessary information (5Ws and 1H).
Medical Emergencies Procedure

1. HELP: Call for Help
2. HARM: Check for hazards to yourself and the victim
3. HELLO: Try to make contact with the person, give
assurance that help is on the way.
4. CALM: Remain Calm
5. ASSIST: Assist the First Aid or Medical team on arrival
with information
What to do if any person is injured or becomes ill?

• Call for the help of the hall head or faculty member immediately.
• Assess the situation to be able to give as much information as possible.
• Use your senses to evaluate if there are any hazards: smell for gas and
other harmful chemicals; feel for unstable structures or hot surfaces; look
for any dangers, e.g. attackers; listen for gunfire, explosions or other
alerting noises.
• Only assist if your personal safety is not at stake. It is unhelpful to become
a casualty yourself.
• If safe, check if the person is responsive (Hello! Can you hear me?).
• Remain calm.
• Do not hang up the phone unless so instructed.
• Do not move the victim unless there is no danger of further injury.
• Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink. You are not authorised to
give any medication, including pain pills, to the injured or ill.
• Secure the surrounding area and allow the emergency services to do their
job.
Severe Weather, Lighting and Natural Disasters

ALA may adjust its programme or student expectations in the event of a natural
disaster or severe weather, and any adjustments will be communicated by the Dean’s
office. However, all students and staff are expected to follow the lightning policy at all
times to avoid the possibility of a lightning strike. The expectation when thunder is
heard, or lightning is seen on the horizon is that all sporting and outdoor activities will
cease immediately and will only resume when no lightning has been seen or thunder
heard for 30 minutes.
113
Campus Address
1050 Printech Ave, Honeydew 2040 South Africa
Postal Address
Postnet Suite 413, Private Bag X1
Northcliff 2115 South Africa
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

Email: info@africanleadershipacademy.org
ALA Chaperone Policy
1. Philosophy
Co-curricular opportunities such as field trips and external opportunities that offer exposure are valuable to the
holistic development of our students, but the necessary pre-condition to all such opportunities is an
environment thatpromoteseach physical, emotional, and psychologicalsafety. Chaperones play a critical
role in enabling this development by supervising individual and group activities to ensure that co- curricular
learning experiences take place in a safe manner consistent with the Student Handbook.
All Chaperones must understand and abide by the expectations of the Child Protection Policy and staffulty
handbook at all times.
Chaperones must be present at all times for any off-campus activity. When students organize an off- campus
activity, chaperones must be requested at least seven days in advance of the outing or event. If no chaperone is
available, then the off-campus request will be denied.
2. Definitions
ALA chaperone: A formal ALA chaperone is a member of staffulty currently employed by the Academy, or an adult
Chaperone
Policy and Child Protection Policy, and uphold the expectations set out in the Student Handbook. For some
external opportunities, chaperoning is organized by partners who have been pre- approved by the Office
. The role and terms
of the ALA chaperone must be clear to both student(s) and the chaperone at all times, as laid out in this policy.
Informal chaperone: An informal chaperone is an adult who has been pre-approved by parents or the ALA
Student Life Office. This can include (1) a parent-approved individual who is on a student’s official contact list
and who parents have conferred with the right to serve as an informal chaperone for their children*;(2)a
student leader enrolled at the Academy who assumes chaperoning responsibilities for a student group on a
regularly occurring outing, such as a Church meeting, for which they will be received and overseen by approved
chaperones whose presence will be guaranteed by event organizers; (3) a Driver who has been pre-approved by
the Student Life Office and Procurement Department; or (4) an ALA alumnus approved by the Student Life
department who has graduated from the Academy at least 24 months prior to becoming a chaperone.
* An informal chaperone must not be less than 21 years of age. In addition, such a chaperone must submit a copy
of their ID to the Student Life Office and have read and signed the ALA Child Protection Policy and the ALA
Chaperone Policy. These requirements must be met b
These requirements must be renewed annually at the start of each new academic year.
Buddy System: A standard expectation of ALA student outings, in which each student signs up with a buddy and
commits to being with that buddy throughout an off-campus trip.
African Leadership Academy NPC

Reg. No. 2005/005377/08 - VAT No. 4050261918 - PBO No. 930020187
Gauteng Department of Education Reg. No. 400286
www.africanleadershipacademy.org
Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

3. Chaperone Approvals
All chaperones must be confirmed and approved by the appropriate party.
i. ALA Chaperones and Parent-Appointed Informal Chaperones must be approved by the Assistant Dean
for Pastoral Care
ii. Student Chaperones are approved by the Year Head coordinating the activity to be chaperoned
iii. Any Chaperoning by external stakeholders must be approved by the Dean of Academy.
Parent-nominated Chaperones are approved according to the following process:
i. Parents must email the Dean of Pastoral Care not later than 48 hours before a planned trip. Parents
must provide the name and contact number of the chaperone in addition to the pick-up and arrival time.
ii. Chaperones who have not been previously named by the parents and received on campus will receive a
courtesy phone call from the Student Life Office to confirm their identity.
iii. All parent-
before being allowed to exit the campus with a student.
iv. All parent nominated chaperones must have read and signed the ALA Child Protection Policy as well as
the ALA Chaperone Policy
New ALA staffulty members cannot chaperone students alone until they have (1) received training from the
Security Manager, and (2) chaperoned excursions alongside experienced staffulty at least twice.
4. Standard Responsibilities and Duties of Chaperones

All ALA Staffulty Must Comply with the Following as Formal Chaperones
i. Review the Risk Assessment in advance of the Trip

ii. Be physically present with the student(s) throughout the period of the activity. In the case that a
chaperone is accompanying groups of students in a large area (e.g., mall trip or international
conference) the chaperone must be easily visible and reachable. In these cases, the chaperone is
also responsible for communicating a clear meeting point and time in keeping with the trip
schedule.
iii. If a chaperone intends to bring their own children along on a trip, this must be communicated and
approved in advance and may require inclusion of additional chaperones or adults’ participants to
ensure the chaperone is able to fully serve their role.
iv. Monitor and ensure behaviour of student(s) is fully consistent with handbook, including the use
of the buddy system and wearing of seat belts in all vehicles.
v. Have knowledge of all emergency contact information and load key phone numbers into personal
mobile phone, with adequate airtime to make calls if necessary.
vi. Establish and clearly communicate a designated meeting and/or safety spot and a timeline for the
outing or daily schedule for the trip.
vii. Ensure that Security guards on duty document the time of departure and arrival of all students.
viii. Establish a clear timeline for the trip and ensure that the timeline is communicated to Student Life
and Security.
ix. Maintain a ratio of no more than 14 students for each chaperone.
x. At the end of the trip, the chaperone should briefly recap the journey and share their experience with
Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

the main organiser of the trip, noting special information that will help future planning.
xi. If taking students in own vehicle, the chaperone must have
a. a valid HR
b. functioning seat belts for all student which must be used at all times; a vehicle without sufficient
functioning seat belts for all passengers may not be used to transport students
xii. Fully document any risk incidents that take place during the trip
xiii. Not be alone in an unobservable place or room with a student at any point during the trip.
Informal Chaperones play the same role as a formal chaperone, and are expected to ensure safety, timely return to
campus, and be present with the student(s) throughout the trip.
Student Chaperones assist formal and informal chaperones with the following duties:
i. Ensure that the pre-trip check list is complete: the list of students going on the trip and their
buddies, telephone number, time of departure and return to school.
ii. Be present when students are being checked into the bus by the guards on duty.
iii. Retain a copy of the check-in list on the trip and submit a copy to the Security Manager.
iv. Take along on the trip, the detailed risk assessment document endorsed by the Security Manager
and the Dean as reference in case of emergency.
5. Additional Expectations for Overnight Trips and Events

The following guidelines must be adhered to by the students and chaperones for overnight trips, regardless of the
location or number of nights.
i. Prior to the trip, attend a full briefing with the trip co-ordinator and the Security Manager
ii. Inform the Dean of Pastoral Care and Responsible Officer designated by the Child Protection Policy of
the trip, sharing dates and itinerary at least two weeks in advance.
iii. In advance of the trip, schedule a briefing with all trip participants and the Security Manager in order to
review this protocol and all relevant safety details of the trip.
iv. Carry all necessary documentation relating to health on the trip e.g., medical aid card and ensure
that a first aid kit is available throughout the journey.
v. Ensure that they are never alone with a single student behind closed doors or in a location in which they
cannot be seen by others at any point during the trip.
vi.
having separate sleeping accommodation.
vii. Before students retire for the evening, meet with students to ensure they all know fire/evacuation plans
and other emergency information. Students must also be informed of the room and contact
information such that they may contact chaperones in an emergency.
viii. Chaperones may not retire for the night until all students are in their rooms and all visiting between rooms
has stopped.
ix. Chaperones shall not stay in a room with a student unless the chaperone is the parent or legal
guardian
x. Chaperones shall not bathe or be in a state of undress with students under any circumstances

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

xi. Offer alcohol, tobacco or any other recreational or medicinal substance to a Child on or off campus unless
within the purview of appropriate medical care.

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

6. Additional Expectations for International Trips

ALA students often have opportunities to travel to other countries in order to learn at conferences, events, and
other institutions. Chaperones for this type of travel must:
i. Carry out a risk assessment ahead of the trip.

ii. Ensure that all participants have hard copies of all relevant information about where they are going
street address, the telephone number of their contact in the foreign country, etc.
iii. Verify that all participants have the relevant visas and immigration documents necessary for travel (and
transit) to the final destination. This must be done in conjunction with the ExOpps coordinator or other
relevant faculty.
iv. Participate in all the activities the student(s) engage in.
v. Secure passports (and other essential travel documents e.g., visas or affidavits) at all
times during the trip, including storing them in a hotel safe when not required for activities.
vi. Provide contact information to all parents of trip participants, notifying parents upon safe arrival in the
foreign country, and keeping them abreast of events during the journey including their
performance and learning opportunities where possible.
For Students Travelling Without Chaperone to Host Schools/Organisations
Students may only travel without chaperone to host schools or organizations if the host school or organization
has agreed to follow the policy below.
i. ild Protection Policy, as must the
ii. The host school or organisation must share a copy of their safeguarding policies and procedures
with the Academy.
iii. ALA communicates the need for in-person reception of students to the host. Host confirms such
arrangement to ALA.
iv. ALA transport officer arranges for meet and assist service where possible.
v. ALA driver/ ExOpps coordinator accompanies student to the ticket counter.
vi. Student is handed over to the and official of the airline they are travelling with (if this
service is available with the airline) as verified by the ExOpps coordinator.
o The airline representative ensures that student boards the outbound plane.
o If there is a layover, the airline ensures that student boards the next plane.
vii. ALA ExOpps coordinator keeps in touch with airline and students to confirm on-boarding and take-
offs.
viii. Driver (if chaperoning) confirms completion of service to Transport Officer.
ix. The host receives students at the arrival gate and confirms arrival to ALA.
x. Host takes possession of passport and other travel documents and keeps them until the
return journey.
xi. Host ensures that student boards the plane either by handing him over to the meet and greet official
of the airline or by accompanying him to the boarding gate and staying until plane takes off.

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

6. For Students Travelling Home

i. Student must be accompanied to the airport by a chaperone (FoD, Advisor
Hallmaster/Housemaster or School Driver)
ii. Ensure student has all travel documents
iii. Accompanies student to check-in counter
iv. Stays with student until he/she has passed through Security Gate
v. Reminds student to call or message on arrival home.
7. Chaperoning Request Process for Student-Organized Outings

i. A verbal or written request for a chaperone must be made by the student(s) to the potential chaperone.
ii. Student must fully complete the sign-out sheet process as stipulated by Student Life Office at least 48
hours in advance.
iii. After the sign out has been approved by Student Life and Security, the outing can take place. Student
Life and Security reserve the right to deny the trip if it does not comply with all safety requirements.
8. Non-Adherence to This Policy

Non-compliance with this policy by either staffulty or parent will be viewed seriously as it has safety and
security implications for our students. The Dean will determine the appropriate sanction for such on a case-
by-case basis. Sanctions may include removal from the approved chaperone list or, in the case of staffulty,
referral for disciplinary action or dismissal.
Endorsement
Please sign this form as a proof of your understanding of the role of a chaperone.
I have read and understood the guidelines about chaperoning students. I

hereby undertake to abide by the rules and accept responsibility for the safety of the student(s) I am
chaperoning.
Date ...........

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Introduction
Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child asserts a child’s right to protection ‘from all forms
of physical or mental violence, injury and abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation,
including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has care of the
child.’
Child abuse and exploitation occur throughout the world and in all societies, and involve the physical, sexual,
emotional abuse and/or neglect of children and adolescents. The Academy endorses the principles and articles
of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and is committed to supporting and respecting
children’s rights and protecting children from harm. The Academy takes its responsibility to protect children
from all forms of violence very seriously and will not tolerate any form of abuse or exploitation of children in
the programs of the Academy. Our responsibility to protect Children from abuse places clear expectations
on every member of the Academy community and obliges us to act in the best interests of Children at
all times, including preventing abuse, reporting suspected abuse, and creating a child friendly
environment.
All Academy personnel have the power to keep Children safe and promote the kind of safe environment that all
Children deserve. The nature of abuse is that it often requires secrecy, isolation, and limiting access to support
resources. By proactively establishing clear standards; communicating available resources; fostering high
expectations for personnel; setting appropriate boundaries; and respectfully observing and listening to the
Children in our care, we seek to create an environment in which children can thrive.
Definitions
This child protection policy and any associated guidelines reflect the definitions below:
A Child (or Children) is defined under this policy as any person, of either sex, who is enrolled in an
Academy programme including the 2 year Programme, SEGL at ALA, Global Scholars Program, Model
African Union, or any other camps. A child is also defined as anyone on ALA premises who is or appears to be
under the age of 18 years.
Best Interests of the Child1: The principle of best interests applies to all actions concerning Children and requires
active measures to protect their rights. These measures should promote Children’s survival, growth, and well-
being, and support and assist parents and other caregivers to realize Children’s rights.1 This includes Child
participation to ensure that the opinions of Children are heard in matters affecting them.
Child Protection: The responsibility, actions and measures taken to prevent and respond to abuse, exploitation
and violence against Children.
Child Abuse: Includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect/failure to provide, emotional maltreatment, peer to
peer abuse, and exploitation of Children;
Physical abuse is the deliberate application of force to any part of a Child's body, which results or
may result in a non-accidental harm or injury to the Child. Physical abuse may include shaking, choking,
biting, kicking, burning, poisoning, holding a Child under water, or any other harmful or dangerous use
of force or restraint.
11
Best Interests of the Child is one of the four guiding principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. See also, ‘General
Comment No. 7, International Human Rights Instruments’, HRI/GEN/1/Rev.8/Add.1, (United Nations, June 2007), 7.
Rev. 10 October 2022 1

2Sexual Grooming is "a process by which a person prepares a child, significant adults and the environment
for the abuse of the child". Grooming can happen online, in organisations and in public. Signs a child is
being groomed include:
• sudden changes in behaviour

• going missing from home or school
• secretive use of technology
• having unexplained gifts
• alcohol and/or drug misuse
• having a much older ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend’
• developing sexual health problems
• mental health problems
What makes children vulnerable to grooming?

Grooming can affect any child. However, children who may be particularly vulnerable include:
• children who are exploring their sexuality and identity online

• those who are experiencing difficulties with peers, including social and communication problems
• children with low self-esteem and confidence (those who want to be liked)
• children who have limited awareness about online risks (they may not recognise 'stranger danger'
in the online world and they may see all online contacts as friends)
• those whose online activity isn’t appropriately supervised or monitored
Sexual abuse occurs when an adult or youth uses a Child for sexual purposes. Sexual abuse includes
fondling, intercourse, incest, sodomy, exhibitionism, and commercial exploitation through prostitution
or the production of pornographic materials. Sexual abuse may include, but is not limited to, permitting,
encouraging or requiring a Child to engage in any of the following activities if they occur between an
Organization’s personnel and a Child:
• using or engaging in sexually provocative language, acts or conduct towards a Child;
• rough-housing or engaging in conduct which involves physical contact with a Child and which is
sexually suggestive in nature;
• kissing, fondling, caressing, patting or pinching a Child or engaging in sexual intercourse or other
sexual conduct designed to sexually stimulate either the Organization’s personnel or the Child or
both;
• using sexual remarks, jokes, innuendo or taunting about a Child’s body or sexual orientation or
uttering, either verbally or in writing, invitations, requests or sexually suggestive remarks or
displaying pornographic or sexually suggestive material to a Child;
• conduct of a sexual nature for the stimulation, gratification, profit and self-interest of an
Organization’s personnel who is in a position of trust or authority or with whom the Child is in a
relationship of dependency; and/or
• prostitution or production of material of a pornographic nature, including soliciting sexually

suggestive photos or seeking compromising pictures, or sending sexually suggestive photos or
compromising pictures, whether through email, instant messaging and other social media platforms
2
National Society for the Protection of Children from Cruelty
or any other means.
Neglect/failure to provide is a form of abuse that occurs when legal guardians or caregivers
(including personnel operating in loco parentis at ALA programs) do not provide the requisite attention
to the Child's emotional, psychological, or physical development when they have the means, knowledge
and access to services to do so; or fail to protect the Child from exposure to danger.2
Emotional abuse involves acts or omissions by legal guardians or caregivers (including personnel
operating in loco parentis at ALA programs) that cause or could cause serious behavioural, cognitive,
emotional, or mental disorders. Emotional maltreatment can include verbal threats, socially isolating a
Child, intimidation, exploitation, terrorizing, or routinely making unreasonable demands on a Child.
Exploitation refers to situations whereby an abuser takes advantage of unequal power and/or
economic status of a Child for personal gain. Exploitation occurs when an individual or group takes
advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a Child into unwanted activity (a)
in exchange for something the Child needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased
status of the perpetrator or facilitator. Exploitation may occur even if the activity appears consensual,
and may occur through the use of technology. We note that all relationships between ALA personnel
and Children have an unequal power dynamic, placing a clear burden on all staff to set appropriate
boundaries.
Peer to peer abuse3is any form of physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse, and coercive
control exercised between Children, and within Children’s relationships (both intimate and non-
intimate), friendships, and wider peer associations. Peer-to-peer abuse can take various forms, including
(but not limited to): serious bullying (including cyberbullying) as defined below, relationship abuse,
3
https://www.farrer.co.uk/globalassets/clients-and-sectors/safeguarding/farrer--co-safeguarding-peer-on-peer-abuse-toolkit-2019.pdf

domestic violence and abuse, child sexual exploitation, youth and serious youth violence, harmful sexual
behaviour and/or prejudice-based violence including, but not limited to, gender-based violence.
Incidents or suspicions of peer to peer abuse place the same obligations on ALA personnel to report,
and will be managed through processes that are consistent with the guidelines provided in this policy.
Differences in gender and sexuality are often prevalent in questions of peer to peer abuse.
Bullying is verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that involves the misuse of power by
an individual or group towards one or more persons. To be considered bullying, the behaviour must
include an imbalance of power: an individual or several individuals deliberately use their power - such
as physical stature, access to embarrassing information, popularity, or seniority – to control or harm
others. Bullying may include repetitive incidents with the same individuals or different individuals.
Bullying can happen anywhere: at school, travelling to and from school, on sporting teams or other
group activities, in the workplace, and on the Internet.
Cyberbullying refers to bullying through information and communication technologies. This

includes cell phones, computers, tablets, social media sites, websites, texts and chat. Children who are
cyberbullied are often, but not always, bullied in person as well. Children who are cyberbullied may have
more difficulty escaping the behaviour.
• Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can reach a child even when she
or he is alone.
• Cyberbullying images and messages can be posted anonymously and quickly distributed to a wide
audience. It can be difficult or even impossible to trace the source.
• Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts and pictures can be extremely difficult after they
have been posted or sent.
Indicators of Child Abuse that ALA personnel can watch for to recognize Child Abuse may include but are
not limited to the following:
Physical signs, such as:

• Lacerations and bruises, bites, cuts, burns
• Nightmares
• Irritation, pain, or injury in the genital area
• Difficulty with urination
• Discomfort when sitting
• Torn or bloody underclothing
• Venereal disease
Behavioural signs, such as:

• Anxiety when approaching the Organization’s premises or a room used for Programs with Children
• Nervous or hostile behaviour towards adults
• Acting out of sexual behaviour
• Withdrawal from activities and friends
• Not willing to see the school nurse or go to the doctor
• Arms and legs are covered on hot days
• Strange reasons given for injuries
Verbal signs, such as the following statements:

• I don’t like (insert name).
• (Insert name) does things to me when we are alone.
• (Insert name) makes me uncomfortable.
• (Insert name) is creepy.
• (Insert name) gave/offered me a gift.
• I don’t like to be alone with (insert name).
• (Insert name) fooled around with me.
Guidelines for Child Protection and Safeguarding
i. Prevention
The Academy takes measures to address risk factors and prevent abuse and exploitation before it occurs.
Prevention measures include organizational policies, procedures and codes of conduct for protecting children;
capacity building for all those who work with children; awareness raising and good practice for minimizing the
risks to children.
ii. Screening Procedures

All personnel (including employees, contractors, campus residents, and unpaid volunteers) undergo screening
procedures in an effort to prevent abuse and exploitation. These procedures include a certificate of good
conduct; police reference checks or equivalent; verification that applicants are not listed in national registries of
child offenders; a detailed application and interview process; and references who support the applicant’s
suitability to work with Children. Any certificate of good conduct, police reference check or equivalent that is
obtained will be updated by the Organization at least very three years.
iii. Acknowledgement
Each individual who wishes to work at African Leadership Academy or be a member of the extended community
is required to sign an acknowledgment form confirming that he/she agrees to comply with this Child Protection
Policy of African Leadership Academy, including the Organization’s expectations to prevent abuse, report
suspected abuse, and create a safe environment. Disciplinary action will be taken against anyone found guilty of
violating this policy.
iv. Awareness
African Leadership Academy ensures that all personnel and members of the extended African Leadership
Academy community, sub-contractors, consultants or affiliates involved with Children’s programs are aware of
child protection risks, policies and procedures; including national laws and international instruments, as
applicable. African Leadership Academy also makes its Child Protection Policy and commitment publicly
available on its website.
v. Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination

African Leadership Academy ensures that all Child protection policies and procedures take into account gender
equality and non-discrimination requirements and the high expectations of our institutional values. We recognize
that cisgender females, cisgender males and any student that identifies as LGBTQ+ may face different risks
relating to their safety and protection. All Children have the equal right to protection, irrespective of race; colour;
sex; language; gender identification; sexuality; sexual orientation; disability; religion; political or other opinions;
national, social or indigenous origin; property; birth or other status.
vi. Capacity Building

The Academy develops the capacity of all who work with and for Children to appropriately prevent, detect and
respond to Child abuse and exploitation as reflected in these Guidelines. Efforts are made to ensure
organizational policies and practices are understood and can be effectively implemented through on-going
training courses for all employees and volunteers and other personnel of the Academy. All personnel must attend
an annual refresher course on the child protection policy as a condition of employment.
vii. Participation of Children

Children must be actively, meaningfully and ethically involved in all aspects of preventing, responding and
monitoring incidents of abuse and exploitation. Children must not be treated as simply objects of concern but
rather listened to and taken seriously and treated as individual people with their own views. Children will be

made aware of the existence of this policy and the guidelines within this policy at least once per school year, with
a training within one week of a student’s arrival on campus.
viii. Reporting Mechanisms for Children and Staff

Established mechanisms enable Children to safely report any concerns relating to their well-being, safety and
protection. Children should be aware of the mechanisms available to them and services should be confidential,
Child friendly and accessible to Children. The Academy’s personnel and students should be able to identify Child
protection concerns and professionally report them, taking into account the best interests of the Child.
Where there is any reason to suspect a violation of this policy, the Academy’s personnel must report the
suspected abuse to the Chief Executive Officer, Dean of the Academy, Head of Global Programs, or
Chief People Officer, which will trigger an investigation of the allegation. Such a report may be made via
telephonic or in-person conversation or through an email to one of these individuals or to
ombud@africanleadershipacademy.org. The identity of the reporter will, where possible, remain confidential in
the investigative process, and the trained individual receiving the report will place the report under the
Responsible Officer appointed by the Board of Trustees to ensure compliance with the processes defined in this
policy and related documents.
The Responsible Officer will work with the appropriate governmental authorities, law enforcement agencies,
and parent(s) / legal guardian(s) or caregivers of abused Children in accordance with the laws of the applicable
country.
ix. Response and Follow Up

The Academy’s policies and procedures include appropriate measures to support and protect Children when
concerns arise. All measures taken to respond to abuse or exploitation shall respect Children’s rights, local laws
and take into account the best interests of the Child and endeavour to ensure no further harm comes to the
Child as a result of any actions taken by the Academy. Efforts to work in conjunction with other service
providers, specialists, parents, legal guardians, caregivers and others will be explored when appropriate.
After any incident or report of abuse and exploitation, proper measures will be taken to ensure organizational
learning, evaluation and follow up. Any individual who confidentially reports suspected abuse should expect to
receive an update regarding the outcome of any investigation from the Responsible Officer within two weeks of
the initiation of the report. Out of respect for rights of all parties involved in the matter, there may be limits to
what is shared back to initial reporter. This feedback loop is an important component of the Response and
Follow-up Procedure, and a reporter is encouraged to contact the Responsible Officer directly if an update has
not been communicated within two weeks.
The Academy will retain written records of all reports of Child Abuse, including, but not limited to the date of
the report and the date of the alleged abuse, the name and address of the Child and his/her parent(s) / legal
guardian(s), the name of the Academy personnel who made the report, the person it was reported to the name
of the governmental contact to whom the report was made, if applicable, and a clear description of the facts that
led to the report, as well as any other available information. The Academy should advise its insurance provider
of the complaint of Child Abuse and retain records of any such reports.
All such records will be kept within the files of the Academy and its legal counsel in accordance with the
Academy’s privacy and confidentiality policies.
x. Implementation, Monitoring and Review

The implementation and monitoring of the Child Protection Policy for the Academy is designated to the Chief
Executive Officer and the HR Manager. These persons have a duty to review the policy at regular intervals, each

year. Each of these periodic reviews will include a review and approval by the appropriate subcommittee of the
Academy’s Board of Trustees.
xi. Sanction and Discipline of Organization Personnel

Where an allegation is made that an Academy’s personnel has violated the expectations of this Child Protection
Policy, the accused personnel will be immediately suspended from all duties with the Academy (with pay, if
applicable) while the incident is investigated. Where personnel is found to have committed Child Abuse, the
said personnel will be immediately terminated with cause from his or her position. Where personnel is
terminated as an employee or volunteer, such personnel should not be permitted to enter onto the Academy’s
premises or participate in activities of the Academy following termination.
When an allegation is made that a member of the extended community (i.e. a contractor or visitor) has violated
the Child Protection Policy, that individual should be removed from campus immediately and/or banned from
entering campus and communicating with students to prevent further harm. Where such a person is found to
have committed Child Abuse, the said personnel should be immediately terminated with cause from his or her
position.
When an allegation is made that a student has committed peer-to-peer abuse, the student disciplinary process
should be initiated according to the guidelines in the Students and Parents Handbook.
xii. Expectation of Non-Retaliation

All members of the Academy community, including personnel and students, are expected to report conduct or
allegations they believe could represent a violation of this policy or our commitment to Child safety. Acts of
retaliation by ALA personnel toward individuals, whether personnel or students, who have reported issues that
they in good faith believe are of concern in the manner described in this policy are expressly forbidden and will
result in disciplinary action. We recognize that any threat or act of retaliation could have the effect of limiting
future reporting and undermining our commitment to Child safeguarding, and we maintain a strict commitment
to non-retaliation.
xiii. Informed Consent

The Academy should provide Children and their parent(s)/legal guardian(s) with all necessary details to make an
informed decision regarding their participation in programs and activities, including any voice recordings, video
or photographs of children. Children and their parent(s)/legal guardian(s) should understand how their images
may be used and be supported to identify and evaluate any associated risks. Personal information and/or images
of Children should only be used after informed consent has been obtained in writing from both the Child and
his/her parent(s)/legal guardian(s).
xiv.Protection of Personal Information

Personal information regarding any Child or Children, whether such information is obtained as part of the
programs involving Children, should not be disclosed to any third party, except in accordance with the
policies of the Organization or as required by applicable local laws. Personal information includes, but is not
limited to, any information that can be linked to a Child or used to identify a Child.
xv. Support for any Child or Children that has reported a Child Protection Policy violation.
In the event that a child has suffered harm from a violation of a policy (whether by a peer or an adult) they can expect
to be protected from further harm and traumatization.

Code of Conduct for Academy Personnel
Personnel should avoid any behaviour or conduct that compromises the safety and protection of Children within
its activities, operations and programs. These guidelines govern our interactions with children for the
duration of their Academy program and for twenty-four months after a student’s graduation from the
Diploma Program and/or completion of secondary education4.
African Leadership Academy Personnel MUST:
Prevent Child Abuse

- Identify potential risks to the safety of children and take appropriate action so as to minimize risks
- Create an environment where concerns can easily and safely be raised and discussed
- Recognize and remedy potential situations which may lead to violent acts against Children
- Comply with Academy Policies, such as (but not limited to) the Chaperone policy, which are designed to
prevent potential abuse and protect Children
Create a Safe Environment for Children

- Contribute to an environment where Children are respected and encouraged to discuss their concerns and
rights
- Ensure that Children are aware of their rights, policies and resources which are available to them in the
Academy community, such as (but not limited to) wellness services
- Work with Children to define what is acceptable or unacceptable behaviour with adults
- Watch for signs of peer-to-peer Abuse, such as harassment, bullying, or unhealthy relationships
Set Appropriate Boundaries with Children

Boundaries5 are a declaration of expectations and an agreed upon way of working; they are created for the safety
and security of children and the adults they work with. ALA personnel should:
- Keep and model professional hours. As a general rule, engagement in evenings should reflect our setting
boundaries consistent with our professional roles. While correspondence to a class, a Resfac activity on the
hall, a posting on Canvas, or a structured tutoring program may be appropriate after 7pm, an extended
casual conversation can blur the boundaries between staffulty and student. In the case of after-hours
emergencies, students should be directed to the staff or faculty member on duty, the Administrator on Duty,
or to an adult with the appropriate expertise to help with the emergency.
- Maintain appropriate staff/faculty-student relationships. ALA personnel are reminded that children are not
their friends, given the power dynamic at play. Conversations should not be overly familiar, and should not
blur the line between student and the staff member; for example, ALA personnel should avoid ‘gossip’
conversations that are demeaning to another student or ALA personnel.
- Avoid creating perceptions of favoritism, such as giving gifts or offering favors that they would not
reasonably provide to others in the community.
- Use appropriate platforms for conversation. ALA personnel should only carry out electronic conversations
with students on Academy email or other platforms explicitly approved for this purpose by the organisation.
If a child initiates a personal conversation via WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook or a similar social
media platform, the staff member should end the conversation immediately and direct students to the
appropriate organizational messaging platform.
Report and Respond Immediately to Any Suspected Case of Child Abuse

- Report any child abuse or protection concerns to the Chief Executive Officer, Dean of the Academy, Head
of Global Programs, or Chief People Officer, or via email to ombud@africanleadershipacademy.org This
report will be treated confidentially and trigger appropriate responsive action.
- Take appropriate actions to prevent any imminent harm to the Child.
- Ensure the Child and, if appropriate, his/her parents or guardians, are well-informed and participate in the
decision-making and any agreed intervention.
4 These time-bound restrictions also cover any children who are dismissed from Academy programs.
5 One Trusted Adult by Brooklyn Raney

How to respond if a Child discloses a suspected case of abuse:
o Stay calm and neutral
o Believe the child and offer support
o Listen without asking leading questions: let them explain in their own words
o Acknowledge the Child’s feelings or emotions
o Be honest and careful in making promises: describe the actions that you can and will take
o Explain that it is your duty to tell someone else to get the Child the help that they need
o Take action, as required in terms of this Policy, and follow up with the Child and/or the Child’s
parents and/or the senior member of staff, as appropriate
African Leadership Academy Personnel MUST NEVER:

1. Abuse or exploit a Child or behave in any way that places a Child at risk of harm.
2. Exchange money, Gifts, employment, goods or services for sex with a Child, including sexual favours or
other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behavior, or any other behaviour that could be deemed
exploitative of a Child.
3. Accept quid-pro-quo gifts from a Child, and declare any gifts exceeding 200 Rand from a child. If an
employee receives a gift that is valued above 200 Rand, that gift should be declared to their line manager.
4. Have a Child they are working with stay overnight at their home unsupervised (should a supervised
overnight stay take place, personnel are expected to follow the guidelines issued by the Dean’s Office).
5. Sleep in the same room or bed with a Child
6. Do things for Children of a personal nature that they can do for themselves
7. Offend, insult, humiliate or degrade children or perpetrate any form of emotional abuse in their presence or
absence.
8. Discriminate or provide favourable treatment to one Child
9. Kiss or coaxing a child to kiss organizational personnel
10. Engage in extended hugging, tickling or coaxing of a Child to hug the organizational personnel
11. Touch a child in any area that would be covered by a bathing suit.
12. Have a child sit on the lap of organizational personnel.
13. Have a member of the organizational personnel sit on the lap of a child
14. Be alone with a Child in an unobservable place or room, or in a room with no windows. Personnel must
endeavor to have meetings with students in a semi private place, (such as the office, meeting rooms or
classrooms) or with the door open and the lights on during the meeting.
15. Engage in prolonged physical contact with a Child.
16. Discipline a Child using any form of physical contact, or emotional or psychological pressure, abuse or
intimidation.
17. Retaliate against or threaten any student or member of personnel who has reported a potential violation of
the Child Protection Policy.
18. Offer alcohol, tobacco or any other recreational or medicinal substance to a Child on or off campus
unless within the purview of appropriate medical care.
The above is neither an exhaustive nor exclusive list and the Academy should and will consider all related
actions and behaviour which may compromise the rights and protection of Children. The adjudication of all
matters related to this policy will reflect the spirit of the Child Protection Policy and the impact of willful
actions on Children and their sense of physical, psychological, and emotional safety.

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

Drug and Substance Use and Abuse Policy

1. Introduction
Section 8A of The South African Schools Act, 1996, states that “no person may bring a dangerous object
or illegal drug onto school premises or have such object or drug in his or her possession on school premises
or during any school activity”.
To that end African Leadership Academy (ALA) adopts a “zero tolerance” position on the use,
consumption, or possession of drugs on campus, learning sites, student accommodation and while
participating in any of the academy’s off-campus programmes and activities.
Illegal drugs refer to any unlawful, intoxicating, or stupefying substances, including tobacco, alcohol,
prescription drugs, dagga / marijuana* and other hard drugs.
 Despite the position change of the South African Law regarding Marijuana, the rules stipulated in the Student and
Parents Handbook still stand.
2. Purpose and Scope
ALA is committed to safeguarding the health and safety of students. Thus, the purpose of this policy is to
encourage all learners to abstain from using any drugs (other than those which are medically prescribed),
including alcohol and tobacco; and to provide a safe and healthy environment for all students.
This document should be given to each student, and their parents/guardians are required to sign it as
acknowledgement that they have read and understood it, and that they have agreed to abide by its
stipulations.

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

3. Position
The school does not tolerate:

▪ the use, possession, or distribution of any illegal or prohibited substance;
▪ the possession of drug-related apparatus such as rolling papers, bongs, hookahs, E-cigarettes,
pipes, foils, needles, matches, lighters, bottle ends;
▪ Performance Enhancing Drugs;
▪ the inappropriate use of solvents, inhalants, aerosols and similar agents;
▪ the consumption of alcohol and
▪ the smoking of tobacco.
If a student is discovered to be involved in the possession, distribution, or use of any of the above-mentioned
substances, the student will be subject to the consequences stipulated in the Student and Parents Handbook.
4. Drug Search and Seizure
In line with the Schools Act, the Dean of the Academy or his or her delegate, may at random and without a
warrant, order the search of any student or group of students, or the property of a student or group of
students (e.g. uniform, school bag, suitcase etc.), for any dangerous object or illegal drug, if he/she has a
reasonable suspicion that:
• A prohibited good may be found on the ALA campus, or during an Academy activity; or
• One or more students on the ALA campus or engaged in an Academy activity are in possession of
a prohibited good.
A search may only be conducted after taking into account all relevant factors, including:
• The best interest of the student in question or any other student in the Academy
• The safety and health of the students in question or of any other student at the Academy
• Reasonable evidence of illegal activity; and
• All relevant evidence received (which may include rumours, with supporting evidence)

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

5. Drug Testing Procedure
In order to ensure the safety of students, ALA has adopted a policy of drug testing for students based on
the Guide to Drug Testing developed by the Department of Basic Education of South Africa.
This policy is designed to help heads of schools and teachers to use drug testing in a thoughtful and careful
manner that supports the health and dignity of all young people.
To that effect, and to reinforce the policy, students may be randomly selected from time to time for drug
test. The procedure for the drug testing is outlined in the Academy’s Drug Testing Policy.
Please note that if a student refuses to provide a sample for a drug test or provides an adulterated or
fraudulent sample it will be counted as a positive test. Whereby, the student will be subject to the
consequences stipulated in the Student and Parents Handbook.
6. Dealing of Drugs
Drug dealing (the activity of selling illegal drugs) is a criminal offence and category 3 offence. Students found
to be dealing drugs will be immediately suspended if adequate proof is discovered and/or presented.
7. Prescription Drugs
As per the ALA medical policy, all students have to declare all prescription medication (including Over-The-
Counter medication), to the school nurse when they arrive on campus, and in the medical questionnaire.
In addition, prescription drugs are to be kept in the school clinic. This is done to help prevent the possible
abuse of prescription medication as well as to ensure that there is medical oversight over the usage of
prescription drugs.
8. Addiction, Treatment and Help
ALA understands that addiction is a medical problem and any learner who asks for or is identified as needing
assistance in coping with substance use or related matters, where this matter has not already risen to
disciplinary action, will be treated in confidence, and will not be discriminated against in any way.

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

Thus, ALA’s approach to addiction is rehabilitative rather than punitive, provided the student and their
family comply with the requirements of the school.
If a student requires additional support, that cannot be administered or serviced by the Health and Wellness
department, the additional costs incurred shall be paid by the student’s parent(s) / guardian(s). Students who
have voluntarily gone to rehabilitation or attended drug education programmes will be allowed to return to
school with certain conditions, which may include, but are not limited to, signing a behavioural contract,
and agreeing to random drug testing.
I have READ AND UNDERSTOOD the content of this Policy in conjunction with my parents /
guardians:
Student Name: Signature: Date:
Parent/Guardian 1: Signature: Date:
Please email signed Policy to the Health and Wellness Department:

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

9. References
• Fairmont High School Drug and Substance Abuse Policy

https://www.fairmont.co.za/general-info/school-policies/drug-and-substance-abuse-policy
[accessed December 2019]
• Marist Brothers Linmeyer High School Drug Policy

[accessed December 2019]
• St Peter’s College. (2018). Substance Abuse and Prevention Policy.
• St Mary’s Waverley. (2019). Prevention and management of substance abuse policy.

https://www.stmarysschool.co.za/uploads/files/Prevention-and-management-of-substance-
abuse-policy.pdf [accessed March 2021]
• The South African School Act 1996

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

ALA Drug Testing Policy
African Leadership Academy is committed to ensuring the health and safety of students. ALA has adopted
a “zero tolerance” position on the use, consumption, or possession of drugs on campus, learning sites and
student accommodation.
Drug testing in schools is in line with South African and international commitments to support the safety
and emotional and psychological well-being of learners. It must be noted that drug testing is always the last
choice for helping a young person who appears to be struggling with drug use or abuse and is just one part
of an integrated health promotion approach, which encourages students to make choices that will help them
to live long, healthy, and productive lives.
In order to ensure the safety of students, ALA has adopted a policy of drug testing for students based on
the Guide to Drug Testing developed by the Department of Basic Education of South Africa. This policy is
designed to help heads of schools and teachers to use drug testing in a thoughtful and careful manner that
supports the health and dignity of all young people.
To that effect, once reasonable suspicion has been established for the use or possession of drugs, a student
must be tested and searched, if applicable to confirm the suspicion. A student who is randomly selected will
be privately notified to report to the school clinic for drug testing.
If the student refuses to provide a sample at the time of collection or provides an adulterated or fraudulent
sample, it will be counted as a positive test. Whereby, the student will be subject to the consequences
stipulated in the Student and Parents Handbook.
If a test result is positive, parents will be contacted by the Academy, and given an opportunity to discuss
the test results. Thereafter, the student will be subject to the consequences stipulated in the Student and
Parents Handbook.

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

Testing
To make sure that parents and students understand the rights and responsibilities of students regarding drug
use, this policy must be read and signed by the students and parent before arriving on campus. It is very
important for students and their parent to understand what is involved and expected of them.
Steps to Conducting a Drug Test:

1. Once reasonable suspicion has been established for use or possession of drugs, the student
must be tested and searched, if applicable to confirm the suspicion.
2. The test must be conducted in the campus clinic to ensure privacy and hygiene standards
3. The test must be conducted by a person of the same gender as the learner, in the presence
of an adult witness of the same gender as the learner, and out of sight of any other person.
4. The nurse and the Dean of the Academy are designated testers and will decide on witnesses
on case-by-case basis.
5. The testing kit must be opened in the presence of both the student who is about to be tested
and the witness.
6. The designated tester must remove the drug- testing device from sealed packaging in the
presence of the student and the witness.
7. The designated tester must, in the presence of both the learner and witness, read the
information contained in the package insert of the testing device before the test is
conducted.
8. The test must be conducted as prescribed in the package insert.
9. The student must first be asked if they have taken any medications.
10. The person conducting the test must be wearing latex gloves.
11. The learner will be required to provide a sample of urine (some tests require hair or saliva).
12. The designated tester will then test the urine (saliva and other samples can be required) using
the testing device according to the appropriate method.
13. The package insert of each device indicates how the result of that test is to be interpreted.

Campus Address
Postal Address
Phone: +27 11 699 3000 Fax: +27 11 252 6190

List of Approved Testing Devices by the Department of Basic Education of South Africa
• Drug Detective Wipe Detection for Surfaces
• One step home cocaine test strip
• Multi drug test
• Quicktox Drug screendipcaerd test
• Monitect drug screen cassette test
• Toxcup drug screen cup test
• Multi panel drug testing device
• Smart check drug test screen test
• A Vit Ar Oral Screen or Drugometer
I have READ AND UNDERSTOOD the content of this Policy in conjunction with my
parents/guardians:
Student Name: Signature: Date:
Please email signed Policy to the Health and Wellness Department.


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2022-2023 ALA Parents and Students Handbook (Oct 2022)

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AFRICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

(Written by Tabitha Tongoi, Winnie Imbuchi & the students of ALA)

It started with a dream

Africa, shule ya Africa.

John is saying no to poverty.

Africa, shule ya Africa.

“Never doubt that a small

Department / Individual Email Contact Number

+27 11 699 3000

ALA Emergency (AOD) +27 71 858 3936

Hatim Eltayeb: +27 60 686 3129

Tinhiko Nkuna: +27 67 701 6714

Mopati Morake: mmorake@africanleadershipacademy.org +27 71 046 6638

+27 71 856 6159

Keabetswe Marumo: Head of

Maya Schkolne: Head of Year mschkolne@africanleadershipacademy.org

Angelinah Mlotshwa: amlotshwa@africanleadershipacademy.org

Student Life Information

To transform Africa into a peaceful and prosperous continent by

Commitment Page (Signed by Parents & Students) 110

Greetings from Honeydew!

With eager regards on behalf of the Academy family,

WHAT TO BRING TO THE ACADEMY

• 1–3 sets of formal clothes AND

• Short sleeved shirts or t-shirts/tops

Items provided by the Academy (i.e. what not to bring)

Electronics and Personal Devices

Sending Money to and from South Africa

Bringing Cash to South Africa

Earning Funds on Campus

You can reach the Academy by calling the main

Students will be able to make international calls on their

As the South African postal system is not perfectly Address Example:

Parents and Guardians

Expectations for Fee Payment

Term 1 (Sept – Dec) Term 2 (Jan –March) Term 3 (April –June)

Applying for Financial Assistance

Expectation for Parents on the Academy’s Travel Plan and Policy

Academy Closure during Holidays

Type of Form Description

Every student must complete a travel plan form

This form is available in the Student Life Office and

Grounds for obtaining leave from classes for out-of-school events

Period ALA Policy

As part of ensuring that students arrive on campus

ALA arranges for all students to be dropped off

ALA makes all the necessary transportation

As a safety measure, the school driver or any other

To ensure that a student who is travelling by air

To enjoy this service, interested students must

The Student Life Department will then provide

Frequent departures from campus for personal or family-related reasons, not

Guidelines for Endorsing Personal/Family-Related Exit Requests

Proactivity around informing ALA of the planned event is crucial; the

There should be a detailed description of the activity/event for which

The prior history of personal/family leave is taken into consideration. In

A Typical Week at ALA