Education Ministry to review schools’ hairstyle policies

A claim that students with dreadlocked hairstyles are facing blatant discrimination in schools is receiving the attention of the Ministry of Education.

Although stressing that existing rules must be followed, Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw said during a press conference on Thursday that the ministry has placed on the front burner a review of schools’ policies, including those related to hairstyles.

She acknowledged the need to relook certain policies to meet the changing international environment.

“What I can say is that we have met as a Ministry. I have had a conversation also with the Minister and we are looking to see how we can review that policy so that we can be even more inclusive,” Archer-Bradshaw said.

Late last month, President of the African Heritage Foundation, Paul ‘Simba’ Rock, lamented that there was recently an increase in the number of Rastafarian children being sent home from secondary schools with correspondence informing their parents/guardians that their hairstyles did not comply with school rules. He said that amounted to discrimination against the children.

Rock said he had written letters to principals regarding the issue and had also sent correspondence to the Chief Education Officer seeking a meeting with his organisation to address the issue.

Archer-Bradshaw, who declared that the ministry does not discriminate against anyone, disclosed that there were concerns last school term about children returning to face-to-face classes with extremely long hair.

She said principals expressed concern that students were not complying with established school rules.

The education chief said that while students had been away from physical classrooms for a while, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it did not mean that school rules were discarded.

She made it clear that in accordance with current school rules, Rastafarian students with dreadlock hairstyles should have their heads covered with a tam, and she urged parents to take a look at their children’s schools’ rule books and follow the guidelines laid out.

“But we will be looking to make the changes so that we don’t discriminate against anyone,” the Chief Education Officer added. (AH)