Schools warned not to ban learners over hairstyles

• MERCY KARUUOMBE and EINO VATILENI THE Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture says both private and public schools should cancel any school rule that forces pupils, especially girls, to shave their heads or banishes pupils from school because of their hairstyles.

In a statement issued on Friday, education executive director Sanet Steenkamp said the ministry has received many complaints from the public about pupils being denied access to education because of their appearance.

According to the Namibian Constitution, no person shall be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, colour and ethnic origin, religion, creed, or social and economic status.

“Forcing pupils, both boys and girls, to shave their heads in uniformity is a violation of their basic human rights, as provided for in the constitution,” she said.

She added that there is no scientific evidence that supports that short and uniform hairstyles contribute to improved discipline within the school environment.

“The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture supports internal school rules, however, these rules must not be discriminatory…,” she said.

She said pupils’ appearance should be respectable and age appropriate.

Nekongo Matheus, the school principal of Mvula Secondary School in Oluno circuit in Oshana region said the directive is very demoralising to the school management that nurses the pupils and tries to instil discipline in school.

Matheus said this new directive will give pupils too much freedom because they feel that they are protected.

“It will change pupils’ behaviour completely. This is a very distracting directive,” Matheus said. “The directive must be called off as soon as possible. The ministry must find an alternative way to deal with discipline among pupils when it comes to hairstyles.”

Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, George Nanghanda, the school principal of Omungwelume Secondary School in Endola circuit, Ohangwena region, said schools will become ungovernable in future because of the freedom given to pupils.

Nanghanda added that there is nothing that his school can do but to comply with the directive.

“It is quite unfortunate that it (directive) has been passed already, but in future schools will be unruly,” Nanghanda said.

The principal said the pupils will not perform well anymore because they will spend most of their time changing hairstyles instead of focusing on school work.

Mwadinomo Combined School principal Dominicus Elago said the directive is fine as long as pupils cut their hair properly and comb it.

Elago said schools like his, which are located in the bush, will not experience much trouble from pupils, as most of the students will comply.

Contacted for comment, Oshana education director Hileni Amukana said the directive is not new, but is is a reinforcement.

Amukana added that the Education Act is clear on issues around religion and beliefs in schools, however, schools are allowed to have internal rules to govern them.

“Some schools have come up with rules that pupils must have short hair without consulting the parents. That is not correct. Schools are supposed to consult the parents and agree on a specific hairstyle to be used at the school,” Amukana said.

Amukana discouraged pupils from keeping a beard while at school, saying it is not part of any culture to wear a beard in Namibia.

Teachers Union of Namibia secretary general Mahongora Kavihuha said the ministry should deal with more important things instead of hair-related issues.

He said nobody should be discriminated against, but non-discrimination does not mean the pupils can wear anything they wished.

“There should be rules and regulations…the school community – the parents, teachers and pupils in high schools – are also mandated to come up with school rules,” he said.

Steenkamp said the issue is especially about girls who, in many schools had been forced to cut their hair like boys.

“This is the discrimination we do not allow. Nothing has changed with this directive except to say respect every child. The girl child has the right to grow her hair,” said Steenkamp.

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