1How the Board works
Our role
The school is run by a non-profit Parents' Association whose only purpose is to manage it for the benefit of its pupils. The Board (called the Management Committee in the statutes) acts on the Association's behalf.
We are responsible for the school's moral, social, material and financial management: budget, fees, staff, premises and relations with our partners. Teaching and day-to-day running are the responsibility of the Head of School, appointed by the AEFE.
Source: Statutes of the Association
Advisory members
| Head of School | Mme Laetitia Cibrario |
| COCAC, French Embassy | M. Frank Gruetzmacher-Técourt |
They attend Board meetings without a vote. Only the five elected parents vote, and they share out the officer roles among themselves at their first meeting.
2For parents
The school
| Status | School under agreement (conventionné) with the AEFE, the French public agency for education abroad |
| Accreditation | Homologated by the French Ministry of Education. |
| Teaching | French national curriculum, with 4 to 6 hours of English a week in pre-school and primary, half of them used to teach other subjects (EMILE programme) |
| Pupils | More than 150 pupils of more than 20 nationalities |
| Founded | 1983, 43 years in Harare |
| Calendar | Northern-hemisphere school year, from September to July |
| Official name | Groupe scolaire français Jean-de-La-Fontaine (AEFE network) |
Homologation means that the school follows the French national curriculum and that its classes are recognised by the French Ministry of Education. A pupil can move to another French school, in France or abroad, without an entrance test.
Homologation of the lycée is one of the goals of the school's 2026-2030 development plan.
Useful links
Enrolment and information
Documents
School life
3General meetings and elections
General meetings
| When | On the agenda |
|---|---|
| Autumnwithin two months of the start of the school year | Reports from the Chair and the Treasurer, pedagogical report, budget, election of new Board members |
| Springwithin two months before the end of classes | Interim report, organisation of the next school year, school fees |
All member families are invited to both meetings. Each family has one vote and may carry up to three signed proxies.
Next meeting: May or June 2027. The exact date will be shared on the WhatsApp group and by email.
Standing for election
| Term | Two years. Seats are renewed in turn: two in even years, three in odd years. |
| Who can stand | Any parent of a pupil enrolled at the school and up to date with fees, except parents who work as teaching staff at the school. |
| How to apply | A short written application to the Secretary at board@ef-harare.com, before the meeting. The list of candidates is shared with all families. |
| Vote | Secret ballot at the autumn General Meeting. |
| Substitutes | The next three candidates by number of votes, for one year. They step in if a seat becomes vacant. |
| Nationality | The Chair and/or the Treasurer must be French nationals registered with the consulate. |
Running the school is a shared effort, and new faces are always welcome on the Board.
If you are thinking about standing, write to us. We are happy to explain what the role involves in practice and how much time it takes.
4Frequently asked questions
Only the most common questions are shown. Search by keyword to find the others, or show them all.
Can't find your answer? Write to us at board@ef-harare.com.
The Association and the Board
Who is a member of the Association?
Every parent or legal guardian who has enrolled a child at the school and is up to date with fees. There is nothing extra to sign up for.
Are Board members paid?
No. We are parents volunteering our time alongside our jobs, which is why replies can sometimes take a few days.
Can I raise a topic with the Board?
Yes. Any member of the school community can submit a document, a question or a proposal. Write to board@ef-harare.com and we will add it to a meeting agenda if it falls within the Board's remit.
How often does the Board meet, and how are decisions made?
At least once a term, and more often when needed. A meeting is valid when at least four members are present, three of them elected parents. Decisions are taken by simple majority; in case of a tie, the Chair has the casting vote.
Can I read the minutes of Board meetings?
Yes. Minutes are signed by the Chair and the Secretary and can be consulted at the school on working days. Board discussions themselves are confidential.
What is the AEFE?
The Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger is the French public agency that oversees French schools abroad and guarantees that teaching follows the French national curriculum.
What role does the French Embassy play?
The Ambassador is an ex officio member of the Association. The COCAC oversees pedagogical matters together with the Head of School.
Fees, budget and staff
Who sets school fees?
The Board, as part of the budget. Families can ask questions about them at the spring General Meeting.
How is the budget prepared and checked?
The Head of School prepares it with the Treasurer, on behalf of the Chair. It is examined by the Board, then presented to the General Meeting. The Treasurer keeps the accounts, and the budget provides for an annual audit or certification.
What happens if fees are not paid?
Families who are not up to date with fees lose their voting rights. If you are facing difficulties, please contact the school office as early as possible.
Who recruits school staff?
Locally recruited staff are selected by a committee chaired by the Head of School, with two Board members and two teacher representatives. The Head of School then proposes appointments to the Board.
General meetings and elections
What if not enough families attend a General Meeting?
A General Meeting needs one third of member families, present or represented. If that is not reached, it is held again eight days later and its decisions are then valid whatever the attendance.
Can a General Meeting be called outside the usual dates?
Yes. An extraordinary General Meeting can be called, with one week's notice, at the request of the Board, of one third of member families or of the COCAC. It is the only meeting that can dissolve the Board.
How can the statutes be changed?
Changes can be proposed by the Board or by one third of member families, and must be approved by a General Meeting.
What happens if a Board member leaves during their term?
The first substitute takes over the seat. A member who is repeatedly absent or leaves the country can also be replaced, after two written warnings.
Getting involved
Can I help without being on the Board?
Yes. The Board can set up working committees, each including at least one Board member, and parents are welcome to join them. Write to board@ef-harare.com to tell us how you would like to help.
I cannot join the WhatsApp group. What should I do?
Write to board@ef-harare.com with your name and your child's class, and we will send you the link.
No question matches your search. Write to us at board@ef-harare.com.
5Contact
Write to the Board
This address reaches all five of us. Write to us about anything to do with how the school is run: fees, budget, governance, a suggestion or a concern. For your child's class, timetable or daily school life, please contact the school office first at secretariat@ef-harare.net.
Parents' WhatsApp group
A private group where we keep parents informed about the Board's work: decisions, upcoming meetings, calls for volunteers.
Join the groupOn a computer, scan the code with your phone. Please keep this link within the school's families.
