1. Basic Principles

1. Comboni Schoools are Curch institutions which strive to meet first of all the educational needs of the Christian community in Sudan.

2. They are owned by the Catholic Church and continue the educational work of DANIEL COMBONI (1831-1881), who believe in the importance of education for every person. So they are open also to qualified students of every religion, race, and nationality.

3. The Main purpose of Comboni Schools, in their total educational programme, is the fully integrated development of their students, as persons of intellectual attainment and of high moral character, guided by sounds principles and strengthened by religious faith.

4. Religious instruction is an integral part of the academic course of study. Comboni Schools expect the administration and the entire staff, not just the teachers of religion, to offer an example of highly principled life related to God.

5. Comboni Schools intend to be educational communities in which all members partecipate and cooperate with one another in their common goals, in a spirit of mutual respect and harmony. All members of these educational communities - administrators, staff, students and families - are expected to nurture this sense of community.

6. Because Comboni Schools are pluralistic communities, with students of various nationalities, races and creeds, they respect particularly freedom of conscience. They, likewise, expect teachers, students and families to respect their Catholic faith and origins.

7. As countries become ever more inter-dependent, Comboni Schools aim to develop an awarness of international society, and welcome not only students but also teachers from different parts of the world.

8. The general curriculum embraces the humanities, science, and commercial subjects, praparing students for further study or for entrance into the world of work.

9. Because the development of the whole person includes the body, as well as the mind and spirit, sports and other activities are encouraged and practised.

10. It is hoped that such fully integrated persons, who graduate from Comboni Schools, can then make a contribution to the society in which they live, upholding the important civil values of freedom, justice, peace and social progress for all.

2. Educational Objectives

COMBONI SCHOOLS live out their basic principles of developing fully integrated persons of intellectual attainment and of high moral character by striving:

In the academic programme:

1. to provide systematic instruction in the Christian and Islamic faiths, according to Church and Government programmes;

2. to provide systematic instruction in the Arabic language for all students to learn to listen, speak, read, and write the language well;

3. to provide systematic instruction in the English language, by native speakers where possible, for students to learn to listen, speak, read, and write the language well;

4. to provide competence and fluency in the English language as an instrument of international communication through the use of English as the medium of instruction in the classes authorised by the Ministry of Education;

5. to provide systematic instruction in Mathematics during the Primary and Secondary years;

6. to help students better understand the world in which they live through instruction in History and Geography during the Primary and Secondary years;

7. to provide systematic instruction in General Science during the Primary years;

8. to train students in Drawing, Arabic Penmanship, and English Penmanship during the Primary years.

9. to provide systematic instruction in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics during the Secondary years for those students admitted into the Science Stream;

10. to provide tuition in Literature, besides other subjects requested, during the Secondary years for students in the Arts Stream;

11. to provide instruction in the various aspects of Commerce - Accounting, Book-keeping, Economics, Financial Mathematics, Secretariat Work, Typing, and Computer - during the Secondary years for those students admitted into the Commercial Stream;

12. to provide systematic instruction in Draughtsmanship, Carpentry, Mechanics, and Printing, beside the academic subjects requested, in the Technical School;

13. to provide opportunities for experiments in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for Science students through well - equipped School Laboratoires;

14. to provide opportunities for experiments in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for Science students through well-equipped School Laboratories;

14. to provide opportunities for research and leisure reading through maintaining a School Library which is continually updated;

15. to provide periodic tests in all subjects, plus a final examination in each subject at the end of the school year;

In moral development:

16. to instil in the students the importance of honour and honesty in academic achievement;

17. to instil in the students the importance of good behaviour and discipline;

18. to instil in the students a sense of responsability for the care of the physical environment (school furniture, buildings, etc.);

In social and physical development:

19. to provide opportunities for students to develop initiative and partecipate more fully in the life of the School, e.g. through the election of class representatives (monitors);

20. to provide opportunities for students to develop various talents through such activities as class newspapers, drama, singing, playing musical instruments, picnics and other excursions, etc.: these activities - though subject to the approval of the school authority - depend on the initiative of individual tearchers and students;

21. to provide opportunities for students to develop their physical abilities through organized physical training, where possible, and through organized sports activities;

In community partecipation:

22. to provide opportunities for parent partecipation in the life of the School through periodic meetings between the Headmaster and a group of parents' representatives;

23. to provide for review - subject to the approval of the General Council of Comboni Schools - of the educational principles, objectives and policies, involving all members of the School community.

3. Organization and Management

The chief administrator of every Comboni School is the Head of the Catholic Church in the territory in which the school is erected.
The Head of the Catholic Church exercices his authority over Comboni Schools either personally or through the Diocesan Secretary for Education.
The Head of the Catholic Church, in the exercice of his authority, is assisted by the General Council of Catholic Schools, whose members, besides the Diocesan Secretary for Education, the Diocesan Financial Administrator and others, are the chairman and chairwoman of the Board of Trustee of each Comboni School.
The local Board of Trustee, under the authority of the Head of the Catholic Church, discusses and settles all matters affecting the life of the local Comboni School, be they educational or disciplinary; but such financial matters as school fees and salaries of teachers are settled by the General Council of Catholic Schools.
The local Board of Trustees, not the Headmaster or Headmistress, has the right to dismiss a student or a teacher for good, if irreconciliable differences regarding principles, objectives or policies of the school arise, or for other serious reasons. In the case of the dismissal of a teacher, the formalities requested by the Labour and Education offices are followed.
The executive head of every Comboni School is the Headmaster of Headmistress, who, besides assuring the collaboration of the teachers, which he/she always needs, seeks their advice concerning school matters during periodic meetings with them. There are three meetings of the Headmaster/Headmistress with teachers annually, at the end of each term, in which student reports are finalized. Other meetings are held as the need arises.
Each class has a Class Master or Class Mistress who helps solve minor problems in the class, meets parents of individual students (on appointment only, and never during his/her lessons) and approves those activities which are left to the initiative of the students.
Since students should be active agents in their own formation process, their co-operation is sought in periodic meetings between Headmaster/Headmistress and the elected representative (the monitor) of each class. These student representatives have specific responsabilities in the absence of a teacher, and conduct class meetings, when necessary.
Class co-operation is sought with students' families. Parents are encouraged to speak with individual teachers (not when they have lessons, however) concerning the Academic progress and behaviour of their children. The Headmaster/Headmistress meets at least twice annually with parents representatives and seeks their advice in achieving the educational objectives of the school and in dealing with financial, academic, and disciplinary questions.
The expenses for the ordinary administration of the school (salaries of teachers, school supplies and minor repairs) are covered by school fess. Extraordinary expenses for school buildings extensions and for major repairs are met by donation from abroad and by voluntary local contributions from parents who can afford to help.

4. Major School Policies

Admissions:

1. All applicants, also those from other Comboni schools, must take entrance examinations to determine proficiency in Arabic, English, and mathematics.

2. The result of these examinations, the age of the applicant, the academic record and a report of conduct in the previous school are all considerations in the School authorities' decision whether or not to grant admission.

Promotion within the School:

1. Students should achieve a passing mark of 50% in all subjects in order to pass to the next class. Special consideration may be given to a student who fails one or two subjects.

2. If a student fails more than two subjects, he/she will not be promoted to the next class. Permission to repeat a class may be given, if the conduct report is good, and if there is room in that class. No student may repeat more than once.

3. Students are admitted to the Science stream or other streams with the approval of the Headmaster/Headmistress, in consultation with the teachers.

Testing, Reports, Examinations:

1. Periodic tests are given each subject, at least two in each term. A mark of 50% is considered passing.

2. Report cards are issued three times a year. These reports show marks for Conduct, Application, and Order, as well as marks in each subject.

3. Final examinations are given in each subject. However, an individual student may be exempted from a final examination if he/she receives an average of 80% in a subject in all the three reports and, at least, a mark of 95 in Conduct, Application, and Order in all the three reports. There must be an average passing mark in each subject, at the end of the school year, in order to be exempted in one or more subjects. Students of Eighth Basic and Third Secondary are excluded from exemptions.

Disciplinary Code

1. All students are expected to demonstrate good behaviour, obedience to school regulations and respect for authority and for the students.

2. All students must wear the designed school uniform.

3. Students are expected to be punctual for morning assembly and for every lesson thoghout the day.

4. If a student is absent for illness or some other serious reason, he/she is expected to bring a note of explanation to the Headmaster's/Headmistress's Office upon return to school.

5. Permission to leave the school grounds during the day can be granted only by the Headmaster/Headmistress.

6. Students are expected to be responsible for the good order of the classrooms and the general school environment, keeping the entire area neat and orderly and free from debris.

7. Students are expected to be honest and hounorable. Cheating in tests and examinations is absolutely forbidden.

Rewards and Punishments:

1. In the school where the "Booklet" is available, teachers diligently use it to record notes of merit, and notes of demerit, for Conduct, Application, Order, and school work. Parents are expected to check regularly their sons' and daughters' Booklet, as well as their home-work and class-test copy-books.

2. On a special occasion, prizes for the previous school-year's (a) excellent conduct: 100% in Conduct, Application, and Order in the three reports; and (b) outstanding marks in the subjects: 80% of the total in the final results.

3. When a student fails to fulfil his/her obligations to good behaviour and discipline, notations - besides those in the Booklet - are made in a conduct book in the Headmaster's/Headmistress's office, and points are deducted from the marks for Conduct, Application, and Order on the report card.

4. Physical punishment of a student is absolutely forbidden.

5. For a serious reason, the Headmaster/Headmistress may suspend a student from lessons and send him/her home for up to three days. Teachers will refrain from easily sending students out of class.

6. Any students caught cheating or helping others to cheat in the final examinations will be immediately suspended from the examinations, and all exams already taken will be invalidated. He/she will be given neither pass nor failure report but may or may not be permitted to repeat the class, subject to the approval fo the School authorities.

Dismissal

1. Reference is made here, first of all, to the provision of Section 3, Paragraph 5 of this statute, regarding a final dismissal.

2. A student who receives a mark of 80 in Conduct at the end of any term will be dismissed from the school immediately.

3. A student who receive a mark of 85 in Conduct will be warned the first time. On the second occasion, he/she will be dismissed from the school for good.