Fi We Children Foundation calls for fair, reasonable school rules

 

 

And the Fi We Children Foundation, FWCF, has welcomed the announcement by Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon that the revised National Student Dress and Grooming Policy will be rolled out shortly.

 

But the Foundation says it while the country awaits the implementation of the policy, students should not be subjected to arbitrary, inconsistent or disproportionate grooming standards that interfere with their education, dignity, identity or freedom of expression.

 

FWCF Legal Consultant and Attorney-at-law Kayla Wright has emphasised that the group is not suggesting that students should be permitted to disregard school rules. 

 

She says, instead, those rules should be fair, reasonable, transparent and consistently applied. 

 

"It is not enough to dismiss concerns about students' rights by saying school is not a runway. For black boys and girls, hair can be an important part of identity, culture and self-expression. Grooming standards should not force students to conform to Eurocentric ideas of appearance or undermine their dignity. Students should follow reasonable school rules, but 'rules are rules' cannot justify requirements that are arbitrary, discriminatory or disproportionate," she contended.

 

The government is also being encouraged to review existing legislative framework, including the Education Act, to address the broad discretion currently afforded to school administrators and establish clearer national standards that prevent arbitrary decision making.