By: Annakleta Haikera
A student association has described the move by the education ministry to allow learners to wear any hairstyle as one of the most progressive decolonial interventions.
The education ministry ordered school heads not to send back home learners because of their hairstyles.
National African Students Association (NASA) secretary-general David Nekaro told The Villager that there is no proven scientific evidence that hairstyles improve internal school rules within a school environment.
Kahamba Maria, a teacher and mother, said her daughter was sent back home because of her hairstyle.
The mother said she was disappointed with how her daughter was humiliated in front of other learners and the school principal.
“My daughter had her hair plaited, and it was her hair, and the hair was neatly tied back, but surprisingly I received a call from home that my daughter was sent back home and hit with a cellphone by the school principal because of her hairstyle.
“I managed to call the principal for answers, but she told me my child’s hair should be unplaited and then be plaited in some pushback style. I was so hurt and disappointed.
“I am a teacher at a private school, and the only thing we don’t allow is learners to have colourful hair. I thank Mrs Steenkamp for her decisions, and now I know I am at peace with myself. I can finally smile,” she said.
Nekaro said education executive director Sanet Steenkamp made it clear that the practice was illegal, inhumane, discriminatory and cannot continue in our independent country.
“Our understanding was that it wouldn’t occur again. Our observations were also in the same line with our expectations in which such practice was condemned and removed completely.
“Therefore, receiving this disturbing news after two (2) when the saga was already addressed is disappointing and disrespectful to the learners and the parents,” Nekaro said.
He added that people should be realistic about the failures of their learners and work on correcting them.
Nekaro said NASA will study those schools still holding onto this illegal exercise.
Once those schools are found, he said, they will compile a list and take it to court because it’s embarrassing to see educated people failing to read, translate, and implement what the schools’ guiding documents and the Constitution require.
“Regional structures and branches will be deployed in the regions and schools to conduct a survey to guide our actions against this matter,” Nekaro said.
Rita Mukuve, a lower primary teacher, said: “In my opinion, learners should not be discriminated in any way. As teachers, principals, and school board members, we should also act as parents in front of these children.
“I feel it’s fair enough that no learner should be sent back home because of their hairstyle or appearance, but I also want to advise parents to at least choose a proper hairstyle for their children. Boys should have baby cuts, and girls can plait in any way but not with this new colourful hair. Dyed hair can affect the mindset of a child and others that might think it’s cool to dye hair at school.”
Last month the education ministry said that school rules must not discriminate against learners or deny them access to education due to their appearance.
“Learners’ appearance should be respectable and age-appropriate. Schools are hereby directed to nullify any school rule that forces learners to shave their heads in uniformity or banishes learners from school due to hairstyle,” said Steenkamp.
