How to Start an Independent School (and keep it going)
WHY?
Philosophy of Education
The first thing you need to do is
articulate your vision of the ideal education environment. Share your dream
with friends, colleagues, teachers, and other educators. Take your time. Your
vision must be very clear to you and your team, so that it can be easily communicated
to other people, such as potential staff members and prospective parents.
WHO?
Staff
If
you are already a teacher, then you need to partner with some other teachers.
If you are not a teacher, it will be very helpful to involve professional
teachers who will help you to articulate your vision and work out more of the
details of your educational environment. The school’s staff are your most
important people, since they will be on the front line with your parents.
Choose your staff care-fully and treat them well.
Market Survey
You
may have a vision, but does anyone share this vision? A market survey can
assess the need for a specific kind of school in certain areas, but it is not
essential. Other ways of identifying a need include general involvement in your
community, as well as meetings with key community or church leaders.
Promotion/Advertising
You
may need to spend a lot of money on promotion and advertising, but you should
be aware that there are lots of less expensive approaches. For example, by
being visible and involved in the community, you can spread the word. You might
sponsor special events, such as information or parenting events. If you are a
non-for-profit organization, you can promote your school free of charge through
community notice boards. Mail drops in specific communities are useful and not
too expensive. You need to get the name of the school in front of the public.
Brochures
can take a lot of time and are expensive if done professionally. Good-quality
printed material is just as good. Try to find a ‘hook’ for some media coverage
through a special event. Later on, the best promotion is through your own
satisfied parents.
Since
websites are now used extensively by families when looking for a school, a good
website is a great investment. If you join an association of independent private
schools, such as UNAPSI, you will also be listed on its website.
The
Ministry of Education also produces a list of independent private schools.
WHEN?
You
need to give yourself at least 6 months, but preferably a year, to prepare.
WHERE?
There are many possibilities for the
location of your school: churches; community halls; public/separate schools;
malls; and converted homes. Your accommodation has to be approved by the respective
local council departments, as well as have the appropriate zoning. The need for
play areas, including a gymnasium, may be met by community facilities within
walking distance.
Location!
is of primary importance for any new business. A sizable percentage of your
students will come from your immediate area; so you need to consider the
economic level of the area, as well as the number of children available in the
age range you wish to serve. As well, you need to consider accessibility from
other parts of your community.
HOW?
Notice of Intention
There are currently very few requirements from the
Ministry of Education. You will need a minimum of five children who are six
years or older. The Ministry requires that you complete a Notice of Intention
to Operate a School, a form that asks for basic statistical information. More
statistical information is requested in each year. The ministry may visit your
school to validate the Notice of Intention. You will also need municipal
council inspections.
Secondary Schools
If
you are opening a secondary school and wish to be able to issue a Ministry of
Education Secondary School UCE, you must fulfill additional requirements, such
as having your school inspected by the Ministry of Education and meeting course
requirements.
Other Schools
Other
independent private schools in the area should be regarded not as threats, but
as allies. In general, it is desirable to have good relations with other
independent private schools in the area you are considering. For one thing, you
may get referrals from them when they cannot meet a potential student’s needs
(and vice versa). It is also useful to be aware of their tuition fees,
salaries, and other policies so that your school can be competitive.
It
is very easy to isolate yourself from the support you can have from broader
organizations. Associations offers administrative support and workshops, and so
do other groups. Explore provincial, Ugandan school groups. Everyone has been
where you are now at one point in his career. Most administrators are very
willing to share their experiences or just chat.
WHAT?
Curriculum
This
area can be very challenging, but just stick to your vision and try to find a
curriculum that will help you achieve it. The Ministry of Education curriculum
is available for your use, and it is a good starting point. The Internet is
also very helpful. Be alert to hidden curricula that may not reinforce the
values you wish to teach.
Values/Code of Behaviour
Clear
behaviour guidelines are very important to some parents.
Structure
Regardless
of whether you opt private-for-profit (PFP) or not-for-profit schools (NFP),
you should become incorporated. The process helps you to think through the
details of your operation, and in addition it will protect you to some degree
in the event of lawsuits. Private-for-profit schools have the advantage of
leaving the control in you hands, but it can also get very lonely at the top —
although privately-owned schools often will have advisory boards.
Not-for-profit
schools, on the other hand, must
have a board of directors. It is necessary to be very careful about the make-up
of such a board. Parent-run schools, for example, often lead to many problems
because parents have a great deal of difficulty being objective. The best model
seems to be two-thirds interested members of the community and one-third
parents. It is critical that the board of directors understand their role as
policy-makers, not management. If management support is desired, then it would
be wise to establish a separate operating board that can be disbanded once
there are more paid staff. Another advantage to having a non-profit school is
that you can obtain charitable status which allows you to access some tax
exemptions.
Planning
It
is a good exercise to do some projections for enrolment, fees, and so on for
three to five years. This will be difficult to do but essential for your own
focus. Also, if you want to borrow money from financial institutions, they will
definitely require this planning.
Budget
Budgets
should include classroom supplies, insurance, bank interest, rent or mortgage
payments, salaries, utilities, office expenses, telephone, and promotion.
Capital
As
with any business, you will need start-up money. Banks and other financial
institutions will lend you money but will want some collateral. A business
generally takes three to five years to become established; so you will need to
consider this in your budget projections. Money from individuals who share your
vision, as well as other fundraising, is possible. Capital donations from
parents is another possibility.
Salaries
Salaries
will constitute 60% to 80% of your expenses. It is very common in independent private
schools to have dedicated staff who agree to take low salaries. If you start
with lower salaries, however, it is also more difficult to increase them as
time goes on. You should learn the salaries of the other independent private schools
in your area and plan to rise to that level over a period of two or three
years. Eventually, health and other benefits should be added. Since your staff
are your most precious asset, you should show them respect by paying them a
reasonable salary.
Fees
The
temptation is to set your fees low in order to make your school more attractive
and accessible, but I do not recommend this. As with staff salaries, it is very
difficult to raise fees as time goes on. In any case, parents sometimes assess
quality in terms of how much they are paying.
Flexible
payment schedules are good, although a termly payment is standard. Ensure that
you receive a non-refundable deposit of one term’s tuition when a child is
registered in your school. After all, there is no commitment until you have
received their money. Paying in advance is also good practice, and a withdrawal
policy should be articulated at the time of payment.
Some
schools also require a capital or long-term development deposit to help with
capital expenditures and long-range plans. Some-times this is in the form of a
donation or an amount that is returned interest-free to the family when they
leave the school.
Bursaries and Family Discount
Down
the road, you may wish to consider family discounts and bursaries to make your
school more accessible.
Class Size
There
is a general impression that independent private schools mean small classes.
This is not always the case, but you need to match your ideal class size with
your philosophy of education.
Insurance
Depending
on your facility, you will need property, fire, theft, and the usual liability
insurance. If you are renting a facility, your land-lord may have the basic
insurance for you to supplement.
Uniforms
About 80% of Ugandan independent private schools
have school uniforms. Uniforms limit competition and help with school identify.
There are pros and cons.
YOU CAN DO IT! GOOD LUCK!
