PORTAL AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS CONTROL
- Purpose
This policy outlines the protocols for ensuring the availability and access control of the RWESTECHNOLOGIES School portal. The goal is to provide a secure, reliable, and user-friendly portal that supports the academic and administrative needs of students, staff, and stakeholders.
- Scope
This policy applies to all users of the RWESTECHNOLOGIES School portal, including students, teachers, administrative staff, and other stakeholders.
- Portal Availability
Ensuring the portal is available and operational is essential for uninterrupted educational activities.
- Uptime: The portal will maintain a minimum uptime of 99.5% to ensure continuous access to educational resources and administrative services.
- Maintenance: Regular maintenance will be scheduled during off-peak hours to minimize disruption. Users will be notified in advance of any planned maintenance activities.
- Performance Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of portal performance will be conducted to identify and address issues promptly. Performance metrics such as response time, load time, and error rates will be tracked.
- Incident Response: A dedicated support team will be available to respond to any incidents affecting portal availability. Incidents will be prioritized based on severity and impact on users.
- Backup and Recovery: Regular backups of portal data will be conducted to ensure data integrity and availability in case of system failures. Recovery procedures will be tested periodically to ensure quick restoration of services.
- Access Control
Access to the portal will be managed to ensure security and appropriate use of resources.
- User Authentication: All users must authenticate using secure login credentials. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) will be implemented for added security.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Access to portal features and data will be based on user roles (e.g., student, teacher, administrator). Each role will have specific permissions aligned with their responsibilities.
- Students: Access to course materials, assignments, grades, and personal academic records.
- Teachers: Access to course management tools, student records, grading systems, and communication tools.
- Administrators: Access to administrative tools, user management, system settings, and reporting tools.
- Access Requests: Any changes to access permissions must be requested through the designated process and approved by the relevant authority (e.g., IT administrator, department head).
- Account Management: User accounts will be created, modified, and deactivated based on enrolment status, employment status, or role changes. Regular audits will be conducted to ensure account accuracy and compliance.
- Password Policies: Strong password policies will be enforced. Passwords must be complex, unique, and changed regularly. Users will be educated on best practices for password security.
- Session Management: User sessions will have a timeout period to prevent unauthorized access if a user leaves their session active. Users must re-authenticate after a period of inactivity.
- Logging and Monitoring: Access logs will be maintained and monitored for any suspicious activity. Any unauthorized access attempts will be investigated, and appropriate actions will be taken.
- Security Measures
Additional security measures will be implemented to protect portal data and resources.
- Encryption: All data transmitted to and from the portal will be encrypted using secure protocols (e.g., HTTPS). Sensitive data stored in the portal will also be encrypted.
- Firewalls and Intrusion Detection: Firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS) will be used to protect the portal from external threats. Regular security audits will be conducted to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
- User Education: Users will be educated on security best practices, including recognizing phishing attempts, safeguarding personal information, and reporting suspicious activity.
- Continuous Improvement
The portal availability and access control measures will be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure they remain effective and aligned with best practices.
- Feedback: Collect feedback from users to identify areas for improvement. Feedback will be used to enhance portal functionality and user experience.
- Training: Provide ongoing training for staff on access control procedures and security measures.
- Review Cycle: Review this policy annually and update as necessary to incorporate new technologies and address emerging security challenges.
- Compliance
Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards related to data protection, privacy, and information security.
- Legal Compliance: Adhere to applicable data protection laws (e.g., POPIA) and educational standards.
- Industry Standards: Follow industry best practices and standards for portal availability, access control, and data security.
INTRODUCTION
RWESTECHNOLOGIES is a Online High School dedicated to providing a high-quality education within a framework of Godly values. Our admission policy is designed to ensure that students and families who join our school community share our commitment to academic excellence and Godly principles.
ADMISSION PRINCIPLES
- Godly Foundation: While we are an Online High school, we welcome students of all religious backgrounds who respect and are willing to participate in our Godly ethos.
- Inclusivity and Non-Discrimination: We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, or socio-economic status. Every applicant is considered on an individual basis.
- Academic Readiness: We seek students who demonstrate the potential to benefit from and contribute to the academic programs and community life at RWESTECHNOLOGIES Online High School.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application Form: Parents or guardians must complete the official application form, available on our website.
Supporting Documents: The following documents must accompany the application form:
- Birth certificate or valid identification
- Most recent school report
- Transfer letter (if applicable)
- Pastoral testimonial (optional, for Christian applicants)
Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of R500,00 must be paid upon submission of the application form.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
Academic Performance: Applicants must meet the academic standards of RWESTECHNOLOGIES. Previous school records and, where applicable, entrance assessments will be considered.
Interview: An interview with the prospective student and their parents or guardians may be conducted to discuss the student’s academic history, interests, and alignment with the school’s values.
Character and Conduct: References from previous schools or community leaders may be requested to attest to the student’s character and conduct.
ADMISSION STEPS
Submission of Application: Complete the application form and submit it with the required documents and application fee.
Review of Application: The admissions committee reviews the application to ensure all criteria are met.
Entrance Assessment: If applicable, the student will be invited to take an entrance assessment to evaluate their academic readiness.
Interview: Selected candidates and their families will be invited for an interview with the admissions committee.
Decision and Notification: Families will be notified of the admission decision within a specified period after the interview. Successful applicants will receive an acceptance letter and enrolment E-Packet.
ENROLMENT AND REGISTRATION
Acceptance of Offer: To accept the admission offer, parents or guardians must sign and return the acceptance letter along with the enrolment fee by the specified deadline.
Enrolment Packet: The enrolment packet includes important information about school policies, fees, and the school calendar. Parents or guardians must complete and return all required forms.
Orientation: New students and their families are encouraged to attend an Online orientation session to familiarize themselves with the school’s expectations and processes.
WITHDRAWAL AND RE-ADMISSION
Withdrawal: Parents or guardians wishing to withdraw their child from RWESTECHNOLOGIES High School must do so within 2 months of registration but before commencement of tuition. Tuition fees are non-refundable after the commencement of tuition.
The school reserves the right to withdraw the students especially due to misconduct after the school shall have followed process of giving the learner and parents chance to state their case and appeal the possible dismissal. LAW OF NATURAL JUSTICE.
Re-admission: Students seeking re-admission after withdrawal must reapply and will be considered based on the current admission criteria and availability of space.
Review and Amendment
This policy is subject to regular review and may be amended to reflect the evolving needs and priorities of RWESTECHNOLOGIES Online High School.
- Purpose
This policy outlines the procedures for handling learner appeals and grievances at RWESTECHNOLOGIES Online High School. It ensures that all appeals and grievances are addressed promptly, fairly, and transparently.
- Scope
This policy applies to all learners enrolled at RWESTECHNOLOGIES Online High School. It covers academic appeals, disciplinary actions, and other grievances related to the learning environment and school policies.
- Definitions
- Appeal: A formal request by a learner to review and change a decision made by the school (e.g., grades, disciplinary actions).
- Grievance: A formal complaint raised by a learner regarding unfair treatment, discrimination, or any other issue affecting their learning experience.
- General Principles
- Fairness: All appeals and grievances will be handled impartially and without bias.
- Confidentiality: Information related to appeals and grievances will be kept confidential and shared only with those involved in the resolution process.
- Timeliness: Appeals and grievances will be addressed promptly to ensure a timely resolution.
- Transparency: Learners will be informed of the procedures, decisions, and reasons for those decisions throughout the process.
- Procedures for Learner Appeals
Step 1: Informal Resolution
- Initial Discussion: Learners are encouraged to discuss their concerns informally with the relevant teacher or staff member. Many issues can be resolved through open communication.
- Documentation: If the issue is not resolved informally, the learner should document their concerns in writing.
Step 2: Formal Appeal Submission
- Submission: The learner must submit a formal written appeal to the school administration within 10 working days of the initial decision. The appeal should include:
- Learner’s name and contact information
- Description of the decision being appealed
- Reasons for the appeal
- Any supporting evidence or documentation
- Acknowledgment: The school administration will acknowledge receipt of the appeal within 3 working days.
Step 3: Review and Investigation
- Appointment of Review Panel: A review panel, consisting of impartial staff members, will be appointed to investigate the appeal.
- Investigation: The review panel will gather relevant information, interview involved parties, and review the evidence.
- Decision: The review panel will make a decision based on the findings and provide a written response to the learner within 15 working days of the appeal submission.
Step 4: Further Appeal
- Further Appeal: If the learner is not satisfied with the decision, they can submit a further appeal to the school principal within 10 working days of receiving the panel's decision.
- Principal’s Decision: The principal will review the case, may conduct further investigations, and will provide a final written decision within 10 working days. The principal’s decision is final.
- Procedures for Learner Grievances
Step 1: Informal Resolution
- Initial Discussion: Learners should initially attempt to resolve their grievance informally by discussing it with the relevant teacher, staff member, or counsellor.
- Documentation: If the grievance is not resolved informally, the learner should document their concerns in writing.
Step 2: Formal Grievance Submission
- Submission: The learner must submit a formal written grievance to the school administration within 10 working days of the incident. The grievance should include:
- Learner’s name and contact information
- Description of the grievance
- Any supporting evidence or documentation
- Acknowledgment: The school administration will acknowledge receipt of the grievance within 3 working days.
Step 3: Review and Investigation
- Appointment of Review Panel: A review panel, consisting of impartial staff members, will be appointed to investigate the grievance.
- Investigation: The review panel will gather relevant information, interview involved parties, and review the evidence.
- Decision: The review panel will make a decision based on the findings and provide a written response to the learner within 15 working days of the grievance submission.
Step 4: Further Grievance
- Further Grievance: If the learner is not satisfied with the decision, they can submit a further grievance to the school principal within 10 working days of receiving the panel's decision.
- Principal’s Decision: The principal will review the case, may conduct further investigations, and will provide a final written decision within 10 working days. The principal’s decision is final.
- Appeals and Grievances Related to Discrimination or Harassment
- Zero Tolerance: RWESTECHNOLOGIES Online High School has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and harassment.
- Immediate Action: Any appeals or grievances related to discrimination or harassment will be prioritized and addressed with immediate effect.
- Support Services: Affected learners will have access to counselling and support services throughout the process.
- Record Keeping
- Documentation: All appeals and grievances, along with the investigation and outcomes, will be documented and stored securely.
- Confidentiality: Records will be kept confidential and only accessible to those involved in the resolution process.
- Continuous Improvement
- Review of Policies: Regular review of the appeals and grievance policy to ensure it remains effective and fair.
- Feedback: Collect feedback from learners on the resolution process to identify areas for improvement.
- Training: Provide ongoing training for staff on handling appeals and grievances effectively.