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Donu2019t ban learners over neat hairstyles u2013 Steenkamp
Donu2019t ban learners over neat hairstyles u2013 Steenkamp

Don’t ban learners over neat hairstyles – Steenkamp

Positive discipline, such as taking away advantages, should be used against learners who break school regulations or codes of conduct, the education ministry said.
Cindy Van Wyk
Enzo Amuele







Windhoek

The education ministry is vehemently opposed to corporal punishment, which has been outlawed in Namibian schools for many years. This is in response to reports that a pupil at one of Windhoek's secondary schools was recently subjected to corporal punishment over a hairstyle.

Sanet Steenkamp, the ministry’s executive director, said no teacher, principal or other individual employed in public or private schools has the authority to inflict harm on a pupil for any reason.

“Any staff member who violates school rules is subject to the public service disciplinary procedures,” she said.

She added that no learner should be refused access to education because of their haircut or appearance. Learners must, however, maintain neat hairstyles or appearances and follow all school standards.

Learners safeguarded

Learners are safeguarded under the Education Act, No 16 of 2001, which makes it illegal for anyone employed at a state or private school to use physical punishment on a pupil. According to the Labor Act No. 6 of 1992, such misconduct is a legal and reasonable grounds for action to be taken against the perpetrator.

The learners are also protected, according to Steenkamp, by the Child Care Protection Act 3 of 2015, which compels anyone in charge of a child to respect the child's right to dignity, as guaranteed by Article 8 of the Namibian Constitution.

This Act also makes it illegal for anyone to use corporal punishment on a child in a residential childcare facility, a place of care, a shelter, an early childhood development centre, a school - whether public or private - or a child in foster care, a prison, a police cell, or any other form of alternative care as a result of a court order.

If a learner is subjected to such acts, they can file a report with their individual regional education directorate offices or the police.

Positive discipline

Positive discipline, such as taking away advantages or being grounded during recess, should be used against learners who break school regulations or codes of conduct, according to Steenkamp.

She added: "However, any discipline should be calibrated against the infraction".

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-29

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European Championships Qualifying: Millwall FC 1 vs 1 West Bromwich Albion | Bristol City 1 vs 0 Leicester City English Championship: Millwall FC 1 vs 1 West Bromwich Albion | Bristol City 1 vs 0 Leicester City Katima Mulilo: 19° | 36° Rundu: 19° | 29° Eenhana: 19° | 29° Oshakati: 21° | 30° Ruacana: 20° | 33° Tsumeb: 19° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 29° Omaruru: 19° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 17° | 30° Henties Bay: 16° | 20° Wind speed: 22km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 11:22, High tide: 05:24, Low Tide: 23:26, High tide: 17:46 Swakopmund: 16° | 17° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:22, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:44 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 27km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 11:20, High tide: 05:21, Low Tide: 23:24, High tide: 17:43 Rehoboth: 19° | 30° Mariental: 23° | 34° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 35° Aranos: 22° | 33° Lüderitz: 15° | 28° Ariamsvlei: 24° | 35° Oranjemund: 14° | 25° Luanda: 27° | 28° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 26° Mbabane: 16° | 21° Maseru: 11° | 29° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 27° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 28° Durban: 20° | 24° Johannesburg: 16° | 24° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 20° | 30° Harare: 16° | 29° Currency: GBP to NAD 23.8 | EUR to NAD 20.35 | CNY to NAD 2.61 | USD to NAD 18.87 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.77 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.39 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1303.34 | USD to ZAR 18.88 | USD to ZMW 25.01 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 74536 Up +0.85% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1528.69 Up +0.84% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12986.94 Up +0.04% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 27559.35 Down -2.36% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - 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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 233.12/OZ UP +1.93% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.12% | Zinc US$ 2 455.50/T UP 0% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.65/BBP UP +1.46% | Platinum US$ 908.62/OZ UP +1.53%