The CLT Board
Christian Life Training
Centre for Christian Ministry and Divinity

31st July, 2008

Dear Pastor, Dean and Administrator,

New publications: Values of Christ, Say a few Words Effectively and How to Handle an Audience are now available. (Please make sure your colleagues as applicable get a copy of this newsletter.)

Cell Phone Number: The office now has a cel no you can phone to place your orders. It is for that purpose only.
Please call me will not be honoured. We cannot phone you back on it. The number is:   0741 334 357.

1. Student Programme Software

We have just negotiated the final details of the Student Programme Software. We will receive the final version on Monday and then test run it for at least a further week. We now know the conditions and the price we must pay. It is quite a hefty sum but by paying the developer a once-off sum we are able to reduce the price for each of the Bible Schools.
The programme is going to play a central role in every Tuition Centre as an administrative instrument of quality. As important as our accreditation standards are, equally important will this programme be to assure that each student's progress is thoroughly documented from registration up to qualification. We should not be without this programme from now onwards. If you have a problem with this, please contact us for a personal explanation.
(By the way, this kind of programme is available on the Internet in the region of R30,000 and all universities will certainly have a similar kind of student programme.)
Because we are purchasing the rights for this programme, you will be able to pay less then R600 for it (at least 50% reduction). We are contemplating the following guideline for its implementation:

1. The Bible Schools having more than seven students should strongly consider implementing the programme as soon as possible
2. CLT expects the top Bible Schools to implement it (unless they have purchased or written a better programme)
3. All new Bible Schools now applying must implement the programme without exception
4. All Tuition centres should plan to start the year 2009 with the programme
5. No Tuition Centre may implement the Mentored Student Programme without the Student Programme

The bottom line is ... please get the programme. For the smaller Bible Schools we have made it exceptionally affordable (as low as R180). The programme can only be used for 1000 students. So it will probably be enough for a few decades! The costs range from R600 to R180 in eight categories according to your turnover for this year. En e-mail with your number and cost was sent out a few days ago. Your classification in the above grouping is based on your purchases since January 2008 and is not negotiable. Please phone the office to repeat the details.
The ten largest Bible Schools can buy the next 1000 student records for R360 more in order to accommodate 2000 students.

2. New student numbers

Why do you only get 1000 records (students) in the programme? Because we are now implementing a new student number system without duplications. The student number consists of your Tuition Centre number and 001 up to 999. i.e. if you are centre number 432 then your students will have the following 1000 numbers: 432001 up to 432999. You can already start by giving your students new numbers.

3. Assigning students to Mentors

All students should have mentors (for the spiritual connection). All mentors/lecturers should also get a student number. In the programme you will tick the mentor box to indicate their status as mentor. Allocate the 432001 number to the Dean. He/she is the mentor of all the lecturers. Give all the lecturers and tutors the next numbers, from the ones having the most years of experience in the Bible School down to the newest lecturers. Then start at your Bachelor students, your 4th years, 3rd, years, 2nd years and lastly your 1st years. Then all your IT and Skills students not enrolled for a Certificate or Diploma can also be given student numbers. With each student, indicate whom of the staff is responsible for them as mentor.

4. Mentored Students

All your Mentored Students (students at a distance who only have a mentor and are not attending class) will have a mentor. Who their mentor is will now be on record. The material you supplied to them, the tests they wrote, the fees they paid, the modules still to finish – every academic detail will be on record. You will also be able to print out a transcript for them. We are making good progress now. Think about the new scope of recruiting Mentored Students (who cannot attend classes). The material with CD for this kind of learning is about ready. We will use the Church Life Programme for this.

5. Academic Administration

Your Tuition Centre will now move into a new level of Academic Administration. It also means that this programme will make your life a lot easier. It will however only add about 1% or less to your costs this year and in the long run will have cost you about 50c per student for their administration in terms of software.

6. Calvary University Qualifications

We are experiencing an explosion with respect to the number of students now registering for degrees with Calvary University. Many students are now studying in countries all over Africa. Other centres have been added in Malawi, one in DRC and one in Zambia. The word about Calvary's standards, the quality of its study leaders and the excellence of its mentoring material are really having a lasting impact on the acceptability of its qualifications.

7. Payments Affected by Holiday Time

In general we have again been hit by a significant underpayment from a large number of Tuition Centres due to the holiday season. R500 may not seem much to you but if you multiply that by 270 Bible Schools you will realize that underpayment can have quite an impact. Thank you to those who did pay us promptly.

Note: Remember to prepare for the M/D study group on August 15th.

God bless your work,

The CLT Board

Equipped to Spread the Gospel