We Must Own Cultures that Work. Good Schools Don’t Ban Pupils over Hairstyles

TUHAFENI MWANDINGILAST MONTH, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture issued a directive that schools should nullify rules that force pupils to shave their heads in the interest of uniformity or banish pupils from school because of their hairstyle.

However, commonality at schools is used to foster an environment that helps ensure that factors outside the school setting do not influence the atmosphere inside schools. These include connotations of rich and poor, household relationships, community perceptions, and peer pressure, among others. It can be seen as helping level the playing field.

It prevents pupils from focusing on their differences – as do school uniforms – placing learning centre stage, and modelling good discipline. Also, a standard hairstyle and short hair, for instance, undoubtedly save time, if not money – in terms of lotions and gels – and are generally beneficial to pupils, parents, and teachers. The time a pupil might spend on doing their hair, worrying about lotions, shampoos, fashions, and unsafe chemicals can be invested in learning.

Provisions made in acts, regulations and other ministry policies shouldn’t be taken as ‘cast in stone’. They are informed by research and research sampling procedures are never 100% inclusive because of factors such as population demographics, cultural diversities, economic factors, etc. 

For this reason, they should be open to internal school policies, etc, to sustain particular cultures and serve communities. This is why a ‘one size fits all’ type of directive might not work. Schools that use measures proven to create a beneficial school environment should be allowed to do so, provided such rules are endorsed through relevant offices. 

Some schools might use rules or guidelines that parents like and which often become part of a school’s culture, with the support of stakeholders and the community. Interfering with this culture not only frustrates the principal but the community. This begs the question, will the frustrated leadership and its community be required to account for poor performance?

THE ‘LONG VIEW’

Some schools have cultures that apply not only to appearance but to teaching and learning methods. Long hair can also be allowed if it’s viewed as part of the culture of a particular school and satisfies the community. 

The appearance issue should be dealt with on an individual school basis, else we might end up eroding school cultures. Schools not only aim for best academic performances but to instil behavioural perspectives that will ultimately benefit pupils beyond their school-going years. 

A generation growing up only knowing how to do what they want faces becoming a ‘lost generation’, who will know little about compromising for the sake of others, which is surely a tenet of a democratic education system.

I understand the ministry’s directive follows complaints from parents, but what percentage of parents do they represent, what schools do their children attend, and are the rest of the parents of the said schools on board with that motion? 

It is clear that there are schools that abuse the hairstyle issue. Is it being dealt with on an individual basis instead of affecting everyone? Hairstyles endorsed by parents with their school boards are not supposed to deprive pupils of their right to education. 

No pupil should be sent home because of a particular hairstyle, but schools should be allowed to use alternative measures to remedy the situation. One could argue that other pupils could have different types of neat hairstyles of their choice.

Also, the question of whether long or different neat hairstyles affects performance and/or discipline shouldn’t be judged from one point of view. Just because some pupils with long hairstyles perform well academically, it does not mean it doesn’t affect other pupils in the same school setting. 

It’s doubtful that there’s evidence to prove that a pupil could have or couldn’t have done better if it wasn’t for their hairdo.

BEST PRACTICES

With all due respect to the minister, schools already have a lot on their plate. Some have to deal with indiscipline, alcohol and drug abuse, theft, poor performance, poor infrastructure, to mention a few issues. 

Allow schools to implement endorsed school rules and regulations that work for the benefit of the majority. This will not only spare principals and their managements additional stress, but will be an act of mirroring a better future, where our younger generation understand that a good performance is great but also that following rules is key in any society. 

Best results will get you a job but the ability to keep up with codes of conduct will keep you there. We have a responsibility to teach our children this, and it is only fair that we do our best. Let’s protect those less privileged pupils who cannot afford other types of hairstyles from psychological trauma. And let’s protect those parents struggling to keep up with uniformity. 

We have experienced how demanding it is to maintain certain hairstyles and we are aware of the effects of peer pressure. Let’s move together, united in the spirit of ubuntu, and let the principles of democracy reign where differences prevail. Peace.

* Tuhafeni Mwandingi is a graduate of the University of Namibia (Unam), former Unam SRC vice president and author of ‘The Certitude of the Determination’.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.