Child Protection

ACST prioritizes child-safe recruitment procedures. Our staff undergo background checks and receive regular child protection training. 

To ensure the safety of all children and members of our community, ACST provides regular training and requires all faculty, staff, employees, and volunteers to review and periodically sign our common agreement. This agreement contains written guidelines for safeguarding children, and promotes safe teaching, behavior, and practice throughout the school.
 

As part of our duty of care, ACST upholds the highest standards of child protection based on international law. The ACST’s Child and Youth Protection Policy is based on international law and on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in which Tunisia is also a signatory. In particular, the two key articles which address protection to children are:

As per the ACST Child and Youth Protection Policy all staff and any adult associated with activity and instruction at ACST are mandated to report incidences or suspicion of  harm, abuse or neglect. We emphasize the importance of speaking up: if you see something, say something. 

The Child Protection Team at ACST comprises trained professionals dedicated to managing and responding to child protection concerns. This team includes school counselors, the school nurse and doctor, school psychologist, principals, assistant principals, safety and security manager and the superintendent, all equipped with specialized training to handle the following tasks:

• Collaborating to assess, intervene, and monitor cases involving child safety and well-being;
• Ensuring timely, confidential, and appropriate responses to reports or concerns of abuse or neglect;
• Providing ongoing support, resources, and guidance to affected students and families; and
• Coordinating with external child protection agencies as needed to uphold the child’s best interests.

As part of our overall educational programs and specific to our shared responsibility to educate children, to protect them, and to learn and grow in a safe environment, ACST will:

• Provide age appropriate lessons for all grade levels to help students understand personal safety, needs and rights.
• Provide parent materials and information sessions to help parents better understand our programs and policy.
• Annually train faculty to recognize and report issues of abuse and neglect.