Presentation to the ACP Conference Lesotho
2010
by David Wylde
The way forward
The History of our founding
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1. Jerusalem ICP Council Meeting – David
Wylde’s initiative.
• 2. Johannesburg.
10 years of conferences
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10 years of conferences:
2000 South Africa;
2002 Ghana;
2004 Kenya;
2006 Nigeria;
2008 Uganda;
2010 Lesotho.
ACP
• A – Active – we do it
• C – Committed – we love the African child
• P - Principals
Why?
• Because we can.
• Because we are driven to improve our schools,
to give opportunities to every African child.
•Why host an African
Convention of School
Leaders?
• “Here is a tree rooted in African soil,
• nourished with waters from the rivers of
Africa, come sit under its shade and become,
with us, the leaves of the same branch and the
same tree”
• Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe
• Founder of the PAC
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First ACP Conference 2000
• A four day convention
• Not only the presentation of papers.
• Discussions in breakaway sessions of small
groups with report back
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Implementation of an international standard of education with African roots;
Strategies to overcome the lack of funding and the uncertainty of government subsidies;
Attracting well qualified, professional staff;
Coping with HIV : pupils and staff;
Outcomes Based Education : Skills and Assessment;
Where to from Grade 12? : Options, tertiary institutions and qualifications.
Number of DELEGATES in 2000
209
• Nigeria 8
• Ghana 5
• South Africa 49
• Kenya 123
• Uganda 3
• Zimbabwe 13
• Lesotho 1
• Namibia 1
• The Netherlands 3
• USA 2
• UK 1
Relationship with ICP and Intention
• This convention has the support of the International
Confederation of Principals (ICP), whose prime objectives is to
bring educators from around the globe together to
understand principalship, educational trends, professional
growth, and promote the exchange of staff, pupils and ideas.
In order to increase the number of educators and pupils in
Africa who are reached by the ICP, we aim to establish an
African chapter of the ICP and its first meeting will take place
at the African Convention of Principals. It is hoped that this
will sow the seed of a bi-annual conference to be held in
different venues around the African continent.
PURPOSE
• At this meeting African educationalists will
attempt to examine issues relevant to effective
education in Africa and to:
• Create “African connections”, thereby knitting
together effective institutions on the continent
and encouraging closer relationships among
educators of all African nations.
• Promote and enhance the image and
professionalism of Head Teachers.
PURPOSE
• Explore options and methods for networking among likeminded schools.
• Celebrate our diversity, but at the same time seek common
ground; identify common strengths and weaknesses; and seek
workable solutions.
• Promote effective continental communication and foster the
exchange of ideas, educational practices, and share
professional expertise.
• Provide and share options for alternative education
• Seek best practice for our continent and foster curricula that encourage
international understanding and respect for human rights and dignity.
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PURPOSE
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Promote the exchange of professional staff and professional publications and
encourage participation in meetings, workshops and conferences across national
boundaries
Identify opportunities for interchanges of academic staff and pupil exchanges
Promote and encourage gender equity and equal opportunities for all young
persons to learn and develop to their fullest potential.
Determine what potential exists for co-operative projects and develop a
programme of activities consistent with the goals of this convention.
Promote the rights and responsibilities of Head Teachers; their organisations; and
the material and ethical interests of educator
The potential success of this working seminar lies not only in the breadth of its
representation but also in the dimensions and diversity of the ideas and
experiences, which the participants will bring to this meeting.
ACP SUCCESSES
• 10 years of conferences: 2000 South Africa;
2002 Ghana; 2004 Kenya; 2006 Nigeria; 2008
Uganda; 2010 Lesotho
• Formation of new Principal Organisations in 3
African countries
• Increased awareness of the ICP in Africa.
South Africa hosted the ICP Convention in
2005. The first on the African Continent.
ACP SUCCESSES
• The ACP has existed without a permanent
secretariat and no regular funding.
• It has been driven by National Principal
Associations and individuals
The way forward
• Now to the future and the way
forward
Suggestion
Let us adapt the constitution
Suggestion
• Hold a teleconference with the help of
ICP and CISCO with the Presidents of
other African Associations to discuss he
constitution and other suggestions on
the way forward between now and 2010
• (Andrew Blair’s Initiative)
Suggestion
Present new constitution at the
next ACP conference for
ratification in 2012.
Suggestion
• New president appointed at the
conference prior to the one he
/she runs.
Suggestion
Approach the AU
Suggestion
• Let us increase our
numbers.
• How?
Suggestion
• Realign African regional
leadership at the ICP, with the
ACP Presidency.
Suggestion
• What happens between
conferences?
• My suggestion is that much happens between
conferences because every principal is applying
lessons learnt in the ACP conference just passed into
his/her school. My list of suggestions of what you
can take from this brilliant conference is as follows.
(You may well have your own list)
1. Read John Adair’s book (Gavin Keller) – team, objective, individual, Read Principle
Centered Leadership
2. Moshoeshoe/Nelson Mandela Leadership (Professor Mothibe)
3. Girl child issues. World girl school conference at next ACP meeting (ICP initiative)
4. Peace education (Suggested by Sister from North Uganda)
5. Breathe (Gavin Keller)
6. Teach staff what you have learnt here
7. Conduct School review Peer evaluation in each Principal Organisation
8. Select a critical friend. Do an appraisal on yourself
9. Integrate HIV/AIDS into the curriculum. Prevention/factual information and
treatment/death
10. Develop purposeful teaching with high expectations.
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11. Remember Malsow’s hierarchy of needs. Psychological (safety),
social(belonging), Ego needs( self esteem), Self actualisation (Achieving one’s
mission or calling.)
12. Make use of the human network in your school. Balance between student
democracy and low expectations.
13. Educate our children on how to use cell phones properly. With students help
decide on proper protocol for using cell phones in our schools. Implement the
technology that prevents connection in classrooms.
14. Creating new Principals organisations in neighbouring countries to increase
involvement in ACP
15. Set up a vocational 6th Form in your school
16. Source things from other Government Departments.
17. Start the Duke of Edinburgh or equivalent in your school.
18. Set up a school band
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19. Build a bridge in your neighbourhood
20. Build a basket ball court/swimming pool
21.Create an sense of belonging through student involvement
22. Make sure your school has water, food, safety and toilets that work
23. Why are you a principal? Your answer to this question will shape how you
behave over the next 2 years.
24. How is your leadership developing your school?
25. Double up your efforts to stay relevant.
26. Remember “Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another,
it is the only means”
27. Let us make our schools world class
28. Don’t accept mediocrity anymore. Africa is world class
29. Raise measurable pass rates.
30. Remember YES WE CAN
Colin MacDonald
• Colin MacDonald is retiring; he leaves an
unselfish legacy of examples of Education with
Production. What is the unselfish legacy you
want to leave?
• Begin with the end in mind
Conclusion
• You will do the rest. Each one of us will build
the African child by building our schools.
• That was my suggested list from this brilliant
conference. You can generate your own list of
best practices and go home and implement
them. We can do it. We have done it for 10
years.
• Viva ACP Viva.