Hair became all the buzz last week when a group of male teenage students in Orange Walk were sent home for having tresses that broke the school regulations on length.
It launched yet another national discourse on hair and what, if anything, it really has to do with education. And it all culminated in a strongly worded release from the Ministry of education which said quote: "Students cannot…be removed from or denied admission to school because of the length of their hair."
And today the Minister backed up that statement, telling the press that the rules around hairstyles for male students in school are antiquated, irrelevant, and need to go.
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"We are all in favor of discipline. Everybody wants our young people to be disciplined. We want productive, positive citizens, produced in our education system. But, the education system also has to follow the laws of the country and rules of the country. We were very clear and immediately the chief education officer got in contact with the management of Bishop Martin High School immediately and informed them of the law, of the rules, of the ministry's position, and the school was obliged to comply. Some of the young people, the parents agreed to cut their hair and that is fine. But, not everything has to be a public argument. If we can settle issues in a respectful manner, that is what we are going to do."
"Yes man, I think these things are shackles of colonialism that is still a part - what does the length of your hair have to do with how you learn? As one young person posted on social media, it is not about what is on top of your head, it is what is inside of your head. So, I totally agree with that. As I said schools have rules and we are not against any of those rules, but you cannot be discriminatory, the length of your hair or your hair style has anything to do with your ability to learn and your educational capacity."
