MORE than 60 boys at Outjo Secondary School were sent home yesterday morning for trangressing the school’s hair rules.
Some of the pupils said they had cut their hair as per the school’s regulations, but were still kicked out.
According to the rules, boys’ hair may not be shaved in rings, braided, cover their ears, be thick at the back and may not touch their collars.
In addition, the hair may not be bleached.
The rules also state that teachers reserve the right to decide whether hair complies with the school’s regulations.
A Grade 12 pupil yesterday said pupils who were sent home were not clear as to why they were asked to leave.
Another pupil said the school treats pupils differently depending on their race.
“A white pupil in Grade 9 has long hair that goes beyond the collar (shirt), but he is allowed to come to school. His parents apparently got permission from the school,” a Grade 12 pupil said.
A Grade 11 pupil added: “What is so special about him [the white pupil]? We all are pupils.”
One of the pupils said their fate depends on the teachers’ subjective opinions.
“They have to consider our interests too, because appearance is personal and we live in an independent country where we don’t have the same taste. What we want is for them to stop thinking that hair affects our overall performance,” he said.
Some pupils said they refuse to cut their hair and are likely to miss a test because of that.
Erickson Salomo, the school’s principal, yesterday declined to comment on the matter.
“I am teaching at the moment. If you come to the school I can show you the rules,” he said.
He did not comment on the accusation that a white pupil received preferential treatment.
Nuuyoma Amutenya, education inspector for the Outjo circuit, confirmed that the involved pupils were sent home yesterday after they received a warning on Friday.
He also said parents can make arrangements with schools about their children’s hair.
“Those who don’t want to follow rules should know it’s a critical time [the last school term]. Were there any black parents who came to make arrangements with the school about why their child’s hair should not be cut?” Amutenya asked.
“Discipline should be enforced. The Education Act empowers principals to suspend children or charge pupils with misconduct.”
He said pupils who were only sent home are lucky as the principal could have suspended them.
Koos Mazenge, the school board chairperson and the father of a Grade 12 pupil at the school, blasted pupils who refuse to cut their hair.
“There are rules that must be followed,” he said.
Mazenge said Grade 12 pupils should not behave as if they are the first matriculants the school has ever had, and said he would discuss the issue of the white pupil with the principal.
