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As a school community, Luanda International School (LIS) is committed to providing an excellent international education program in a safe and caring environment. The protection and welfare of children and young people from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation is a key priority for the school.
LIS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the protection and welfare of children and young people. This goal begins by ensuring all applicants for teaching and non-teaching positions are carefully reviewed. Our recruitment process and protocols are rigorous and include criminal record checks and accurate pre-screening information about their visa, study, health and work history, including any aspects of their past or present profile that could affect the reputation of LIS or the well-being of those already in the school.
Following the pre-screening and hiring process, employees who have accepted an offer of employment and provided all necessary documentation must complete child protection training and sign the LIS Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct applies to all faculty, staff, employees, students and volunteers who interact with children or young people in both a direct and/or unsupervised capacity.
In cases where there is reason to be concerned with an employee’s suitability to work with children, LIS will conduct a full internal inquiry following a course of due process. Based on the outcome of the inquiry, appropriate action will be taken in accordance with school policy. The school reserves the right to suspend or summarily dismiss an LIS Employee for matters of misconduct including abuse or neglect of children.
By enrolling your child/children at Luanda International School you have agreed to work in partnership with the school and abide by the policies adopted by the Luanda International School Board of Directors. Your support and commitment to a safe and supportive school environment is very much appreciated. For further details, please reference the LIS Child Protection Policy.
LIS believes and recognises that every student has the right to live in a safe and secure environment. LIS also recognizes that abuse and neglect fundamentally affect a child’s well being and ability to learn. This child protection policy and its related procedures and protocols are founded on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a human rights treaty which deals with child-specific needs and rights. As a signatory nation that ratified this convention, Angola is bound to it by international law.
All staff employed at Luanda International School must report suspected incidences of child abuse or neglect whenever the staff member has reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered or is at risk of suffering abuse or neglect. Reporting and follow up of all suspected incidences of child abuse or neglect will proceed in accordance with administrative regulations respective to this policy, which will be reviewed annually by the School Director. Furthermore, cases of suspected child abuse or neglect might be reported to the respective consulate in Luanda, to the appropriate child protection agency in the home country, and/or to local authorities.
Luanda International School will communicate this policy annually, provide annual training for all staff, and ensure hiring practices for employees and contracted service providers includes the appropriate criminal and sexual offence reports to safeguard children. All staff will be expected to sign the child protection code of conduct. In the case of a staff member is reported as an alleged offender, Luanda International School will conduct a full investigation following a carefully designed course of due process.
Approved by Board 25 October 2016; Revised 3 November 2017; Revised 19 March 2018
