JACSI developing grooming policy for high schools

By Kimberley Peddie/Kimone Witter   

 

President of the Jamaica Association of Chairmen for Secondary Institutions (JACSI), Courtney Wynter, says the association is developing a generic grooming policy for high schools.

 

Mr. Wynter says grooming is a small part of the holistic individual that school administrators are attempting to produce for the world of work.

 

He shares the view of Education Minister Fayval Williams that it cannot be a free for all and students must be balanced in how they present themselves.

 

"What most schools are trying to do is to say to their students or their constituents, look, deportment is important. The way you carry yourself, the way you address, the way you wear your hair is very important. And so, while we say we are not going to discriminate against anyone, schools set a policy or a standard by which they would like that individual to attend their institution. We do not have any issues or any problems with that," he admitted. 

 

Mr. Wynter said, to bring closure to the issue, the association is developing a handbook for grooming. 

 

"What we are trying to do as the...Chairman Association for Secondary Schools, is to have a team work on a what we call a template for grooming policy that all schools could work with. And that will satisfy all the stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, the courts, as well as the schools and maintain certain standards within the schools," he noted.  

 

Mr. Wynter was speaking with Radio Jamaica News following the recent general meeting for principals and vice principals, in Trelawny.