Ahead of the start of the new school year on Tuesday, a reviewed report of a new hair policy for school children has been brought to the Cabinet for approval.
In a telephone interview with Newsroom on Thursday, Education Minister Priyamanik Chand explained that consultants provided a report consisting of changes to be implemented after considering several conditions related to hair and schools.
However, the report will be submitted to the cabinet before it is implemented in schools in the new semester.
Mr Manikchand said, “I will take a policy of accepting the Cabinet’s opinion.”
She explained that the policy report will be discussed before the school is notified.
Earlier, the minister said there were changes to the rules and regulations covering acceptable hairstyles in classrooms. times.
The minister said he doesn’t think children should be sent home because of their hairstyles.
“We are confident that changes will be made that are necessary to balance health and safety, the reality of different hair types, and neatness, and that is what we are doing. We hope to have it done by the end of the year,” she added.
The debate over outdated hairstyles in the school system began in March 2022 after the Ministry of Education issued a memo announcing a one-day relaxation of existing hairstyle rules in schools for teachers and students.
It was to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The ministers quickly launched talks as people calling for the rule’s abolition percolated into a national debate on social media.
In a panel discussion hosted by The News Room, Tamika Henry-Fraser, founder of the social movement Curl Fete, said policies and regulations requiring students to keep their hair neat and tidy do not consider Afro-Guyananese children. claimed.
Manikchand, who participated in the panel discussion, agreed that hairstyle rules in schools should be reviewed and changed.
The conversation also brought up the idea that rules are outdated because hairstyles cannot determine whether a child learns in class.
