Disciplinary action for persons who send students home for hairstyles – Minister

…water breaks, comfortable teachers’ dress code supported amid hot conditions

Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Tuesday sent out a stern message that any person who sends a student home because of their hairstyle will face disciplinary action.
“Children are not to be sent home for any breach or perceived breach of any school’s hairstyle rule. And any person so doing (sending children home) will face disciplinary proceedings,” she posted on social media page Facebook.
This stance came amid reports that a female student from the South Ruimveldt Secondary School was sent home because of her hairstyle. The child was reportedly told to change her hairstyle before returning to the institution.
Later on Tuesday, the Minister told media operatives on the sidelines of an event, “We’re not saying that schools can’t have hairstyle rules. We are saying schools cannot send children home for any perceived breach of hairstyle rules. When you send them home, the kids are vulnerable on the road, they are unsupervised at home, and missing instructional time. We hold firmly to that.”
In January, the Education Ministry had announced a new hair policy in which students across the school system were not to be sent home or denied entry to school, as had previously been practised, owing to strict hair guidelines.
The Ministry had informed headteachers, “In keeping with the guidelines provided in the Ministry of Education’s Manual of Guidelines for the Maintenance of Order and Discipline in Schools, learners must not be sent home, or suspended, denied entry to school, or access to teaching and learning, sent to the Department of Education, administered corporal punishment or any other forms of punishment, for having a hairstyle that is perceived to be a breach of the school’s rule.”
Sending children home for such, she added, is in breach of this circular. Where guidelines are breached, the school is required to invite the parents and find a resolution.
“The teacher will be called upon to show cause as to why they should not be disciplined in accordance with the rules of the Teaching Service Commission.”
When the policy was implemented, headteachers had been reminded that their main priority is to ensure that all learners are in school, and are being taught with an aim of reducing learning loss. In any instance where a learner is deemed to have an inappropriate hairstyle, the school must invite the parent or guardian to discuss the perceived infraction.
This change came about after several concerns were raised after the Ministry had facilitated a relaxation of hair rules for International Women’s Day last year. Persons had highlighted that some of their rights were infringed due to stringent requirements. Education Minister Priya Manickchand had sought to address the issue with a national survey. Thousands of persons had responded, sharing their input on expectations, and offering suggestions. More such conversations continued on the said topic.
At that time, the Minister had said that it was a dynamic issue, and a relaxation of rules would not affect the curriculum or retention of knowledge in students. She had added that school rules should not hurt learners.
Hair rules at each school had varied, and while the contention was that some schools should formulate their own rules, another cross-section of persons had wanted the Ministry to regulate the requirements.

Comfortable environment
Meanwhile, the Education Minister has addressed complaints of children being disallowed from drinking water in class, highlighting the increased temperatures due to climate change. However, it must be done in a controlled way to prevent distractions, such as timed water and washroom breaks.
“We don’t know where that rule came from. I see people are saying this is a rule. It is very, very hot. The country is very hot. The world has heated up because of climate change and all kinds of other issues… Children have to be allowed to drink water. They must be allowed to go to the washroom. We can’t have a free-for-all in the class, so a teacher has to control her class.”
The same applies to teachers who are asked to wear blazers in the current humid conditions. Recently, there was an instance of a headteacher sending home a teacher for wearing short sleeves.
The Minister outlined, “Within reason, I don’t see why a teacher can’t come in a sleeveless dress…Teachers teaching all day do not need to be in jackets and turtlenecks. They can come in clothes comfortable to them. Everything has to have reason. You can’t come in short pants fit for a beach to teach the children. My hope for this education system is that we behave in a way that is practical, that will bring results in.” (G12)