School Management

The School Principal

The French Agency for Education Abroad (AEFE) recruits school principals to govern over its accredited schools. These principals are civil servants of the French Ministry of Education on detachment with a public law contract valid for three years with a possibility of extending the contract for two further periods of twelve months.

HIS/HER MISSIONS:

• mission of responsibility for the school which requires an adaptability of methods, behaviours and educational content to fit local contexts which may sometimes be very different from French contexts. The principal also needs to take into account the necessity to offer students a double exposure to French and Lao culture.
• Wider missions in matters relating to management of human resources and finances. He / she is the keystone in the management system of accredited schools.
• Educative missions which contribute to the policy of linguistic and cultural advancement and educational cooperation with the diplomatic staff.

HIS/HER FUNCTIONS

• Close collaboration with the Director of the agency for establishing and implementing the school plan.
• Educational reference: the school principal, with his / her knowledge of official texts and major educational publications, is a reference for educational matters and plays a fundamental role in the planning carried out by the teaching staff, the production of educational resources adapted to the local context and their harmonious, useful and efficient implication in the school environment.
• Collaborator with the cultural services of the embassy and under the authority of the Ambassador.

Head of the Primary School

As part of the school governing team, a head of the primary school is appointed by the AEFE. He / she is a civil servant of the French Ministry of Education and a current member named on the list of aptitude for governance of primary schools. He / she is appointed through a public law contract, on detachment, for a period of three years with a possibility of extending the contract for two twelve month periods.

HIS/HER MISSIONS:

• He / she carries out a mission under the educational authority of an inspector of the National Education Department based in the Asia-South Pacific Zone.
• He / she is placed under the direct authority of the school principal of LFIV, who has the sole responsibility fro the school. He / she is thus considered as holding the position of vice-principal.

HIS / HER FUNCTIONS:

• Administrative and educational management of the primary school;
• The educational coordination and management of the primary school teaching staff;
• The establishment and implementation of the primary school plan, as distinct from the overall school plan in cases where a primary school is integrated with a secondary school.
• He / she participates in:
  • the establishment of the regional plan for continuous professional development (especially in the context of the annual seminar for school principals and primary school heads);
  • the implementation of this plan within the context of his / her own school or in a wider case his / her zone of operation (regional training programmes); 
  • leading training programmes which could benefit locally recruited members of staff.

The Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) is a government institution supervised by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development. It is responsible for monitoring and managing the network of French schools abroad. It is the world’s largest educational network, with schools in 137 countries. It plays a key role in expanding France’s cultural and linguistic influence throughout the world and serves to boost the appeal of French higher education.

France is the only country in the world which has such a vast educational network operating beyond its own national borders. This network caters to the ever increasing mobility of French families in the international arena. The network also helps broaden the influence of French language and culture by taking in foreign students (60% of pupils in total).

School accreditation a seal of quality

Accreditation by the French Ministry of Education certifies that the teaching provided by the school complies with the demands, curricula, teaching objectives and organizational rules of the French education system.

All students from accredited schools can pursue their education in another French school without having to take an entry examination.

A high-quality environment

In the past 20 years the network has seen the number of students increase by 50%. This testifies to the high-quality teaching provided throughout the network but also requires caution to ensure a balanced budget.

The recognition of the central role of the education network in furthering the advancement and recognition of France abroad can be seen in the maintenance of major resources to optimise its functioning. The rationalisation of means at the AEFE’s disposal and the permanent modernisation of the network’s operation represent constant challenges for the Agency.

The French International School of Vientiane (LFIV) jointly operated AEFE school. It is an association set up under private law, French or foreign, and has signed an agreement with the AEFE in relation to its administrative, financial and educational requirements. This agreement also lays out guidelines concerning the employment of qualified French staff and also outlines the conditions required to obtain financial assistance for tuition. An open dialogue is maintained between the LFIV and the AEFE.

The LFIV was founded in 1986 and caters for both primary and secondary level teaching, in compliance with the French national curriculum as defined by the Ministry of Education. It holds a contract with the AEFE and is open to children of French nationals living in Laos and to other EU nationals, Lao citizens and children of other nationalities.

• The LFIV is managed by the school Principal who is appointed by the AEFE.
• The LFIV is placed under the educational management of the cultural services department of the French embassy – its role being similar to that of a regional school inspector.
• The LFIV is placed under the protection of the French embassy in Vientiane.
• The LFIV is run by a Parents’ Association, hereafter referred to as “association” or “PA of LFIV”.

The association is subject to the modified law of July 1st 1901 and entitled “The Parents’ Association of the French International School of Vientiane Josué-Hoffet” or in its abbreviated form “PA of LFIV”. Its headquarters is: c/o Anefe, 28 rue de Châteaudun, 75009 Paris, France.

ITS OBJECTIVES

• To oversee the management and development of LFIV by meeting the needs of all students attending the school, regardless of nationality.
• To create a tight collaboration between parents, teachers and management in order to guarantee a high level of teaching.
• To promote all cultural and extracurricular activities which may supplement the educational curriculum.

ITS MEMBERS

• Active members: all parents or legal representatives of students attending LFIV whose payment of fees is up to date. Each family holds one vote at the general assemblies, regardless of the number of children attending LFIV.
• Ex officio members: The French ambassador to Laos, honorary President of the association; the Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs of the French embassy; the Head of the Consular Department of the French embassy; the school principal; the administrative and financial director of LFIV and the head of the primary school. These members only have consultative powers during general assemblies.
• Contributing members: natural or moral persons who have provided material or financial support to the association. These members are nominated during the general assembly upon proposal from the Board of Directors. They only have consultative powers during general assemblies.

Its Members

• The members of the Management Committee (COGES)
• Six Ex officio members: the Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs of the French embassy, the school principal, the Head of the Consular Department of the French embassy; the school principal; the administrative and financial director of LFIV, the head of the primary school and a representative of the permanent staff or a substitute member who has been elected for a one year period by his or her peers at the latest two weeks prior to the annual General Meeting held in the third trimester.

The management Committee

The Committee is made up of a minimum of five members and a maximum of eight, elected by the general assembly from the parents or legal representatives of students with the exception of those who are employed by the LFIV or the AEFE and their spouses. The length of the term is set at two years. One member per family is eligible. Members of previous Committees are eligible for a maximum of two further consecutive terms.

The office

Members elected during a general assembly carry out various functions. These functions are delegated during the first meeting of the Management Committee:

• President: he or she is the legal representative of the association in all civil procedures. He or she sets the agenda and chairs the meetings of the Board of Directors. He sits on the committee for the recruitment of local staff and on the Consular committee for grants (CCB).
• Treasurer: he or she is empowered to receive money and to make payments on behalf of the school. He or she submits the accounting balance sheet for the previous year prior to the third trimester general assembly.
• Secretary: he or she maintains the minutes of the Board of Directors’ meetings. He or she keeps records of the members of the association, sends out the notices regarding the general assemblies and is responsible for all correspondence relating to the activities of the Board of Directors.

(The President and the Treasurer must hold French nationality and be registered with the French Consulate.)

Its responsibilities

The Management Committee holds responsibility for the financial management of the school, and in this respect, the Committee:

• Approves and adopts the budget in conjunction with the school principal.
• Signs contracts for local staff. Prior consultation with the Committee responsible for managing local staff (CGPL) is required in order to sign contracts for teachers and other educational personnel. For all other positions, recruitment is carried out based on proposal from the school principal.
• Establishes the registration and tuition fees and the modalities of payment, determines the amount for deposits and other contributions made by families to activities offered by the school.
• Makes decisions regarding investment in material and construction, maintenance and repairs to school property.

At LFIV, as in all French school abroad in the AEFE network, there exists a governing board, a primary school council and a secondary school council.

THE GOVERNING BOARD

This is the main body which conducts the everyday business of the school and is the competent authority for both primary and secondary levels.

POWERS

• 1. Adopt:
  • the school plan, as proposed by the primary school and secondary school councils;
  • the school rules following consultation with the relevant preparatory bodies (both school councils and the student council);
  • school times and the school calendar;
  • the annual Education Guidance plan;
  • the continuous training programme for members of staff, as proposed by the relevant committee.
• 2. Give an opinion in relation to:
  • Employment (the creation, removal or transformation of positions);
  • Proposals concerning the evolution of educational structures;
  • The list of activities provided by the Sports Association or of other Associations and Clubs which may be held on school premises, including those of a temporary nature;
  • Hygiene and security matters for the entire school community;
  • Matters related to the working conditions of staff members;
  • Matters involving the reception of parents and the distribution of information and the general modalities of parent participation in school life;
  • The planning and financing of school trips;
  • The organisation of the school day;
  • Accepting and providing for handicapped students;
  • School meals.
• 3. Others:
  • the governing board can, if the need arises, be called into sitting with an agenda based solely on matters relating to hygiene, security and working conditions of staff members. And ad hoc committee, whose members are to be determined by the governing body, has also been put in place to prepare the groundwork of the governing body in each of thee domains.
  • The budget and financial accounts of the school, based on the report provided by the authorising officer and the Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs, both of which are presented (together with the agreements and contracts) to the governing body.
  • A report on the educational workings and an overview of implementation of the school plan are presented yearly to the governing body by the school principal.

MEMBERS

The governing body is tripartite, composed of an equal number of ex officio members representing the school administration, staff representatives and parent and student representatives.

The number of ex officio members determines the number of members on the governing body. At LFIV there are 5 ex officio members:

• The head of the diplomatic mission or his/her representative,
• The school principal,
• The Administrative and Financial Director,
• The Principal Educational Adviser,
• the head of the primary school.

Therefore, there shall be 5 members representing staff and 5 members representing school users (3 parents and 2 students).

Among staff representatives, a balance needs to be found between primary and secondary school staff. The meeting of the governing body is presided over by the school principal, or the school vice principal on his/her behalf.

Other members may sit on a consultative basis:

• the Consul of France or a representative;
• Consular advisors of the relevant divisions;
• Two local individuals chosen for their competence in social, economic or cultural domains upon the proposal of the school principal;
• The president of the Ex-students association or a representative;
• Two representatives of the board of directors, the managing body for accredited schools.
• The delegated coordinator of the AEFE management.

At, LFIV, as in all schools in the AEFE network, there exists a school council placed under the responsibility of the head of the primary school.

POWERS

• The council adopts the school rules upon proposal by the head of the primary school.
• The council gives an opinion on all matters relating to the workings of the school, in particular:
  • Educational structures;
  • The organisation of the school day and calendar;
  • The primary school plan or the relevant section of the overall school plan as defined by the primary school teachers’ council;
  • Any actions enabling an optimal utilisation of the means allotted to the school and an appropriate use of premises;
  • The appropriate school structure for students with special educational needs within local constraints;
  • Planning and organising school trips;
  • Matters relating to hygiene, health and safety of students in the school and extracurricular environment;
  • Principles of choice in educational resources and tools
  • Matters involving the reception of parents and the distribution of information and the general modalities of parent participation in school life.

MEMBERS

The council is presided over by the head of the primary school.

Ex-officio members

• Head of the primary school,
• 15 primary school teachers with at least one per year group,
• FLESCO teacher (French as a language for schooling)
• 15 parent representatives with at least one per year group.

Members who can sit with a consultative role:

• the school principal,
• The Administrative and Financial Director,
• The inspector of the national education department, resident in Bangkok.
• Furthermore, representatives of other members of staff employed in the school may assist, in a consultative role, at the council meeting.
• The president, following council advice, may invite any other person for consultation whose presence may be deemed useful in matters related to the agenda.

The parent representatives are elected by ballot from a list of candidates. For each elected representative, a substitute is also nominated under the same conditions.

FUNCTION

• The school council is set up for a duration of one year and remains in place until a new council takes its place.
• The ordinary session of the councils meets to discuss a predetermined agenda once per trimester and obligatorily before the meeting of the governing body, and before any special session of the same should the agenda call for it.
• The council can also be called into a special session at the demand of the head of the primary school or half of its voting members.