Learners urged to keep their hair neat
“No learner must be sent home as a result of their hair as it goes against constitutional provision, namely Article 8.”
Enzo Amuele
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) continues to stand strong with the learners as they address the issue of learners being dismissed because of their hairstyles.
According to Nanso the hair issue has been recurring in their engagements with learners and sparked debates nationally.
Based on a letter forwarded by the education ministry’s executive director, Sanet Steenkamp, “no learner must be sent home as a result of their hair as it goes against constitutional provision, namely Article 8.”
However, according to a press statement released by Nanso dated 7 February 2021, the ministry of education has written to the attorney-general’s office requesting guidance on the way forward.
The president of Nanso, Simon Taapopi, says the issue of dismissing learners from school has a racial connotation.
“It is mostly black learners who are not allowed to have afros, while their white counterparts are allowed to have their hair naturally, while the black learners cannot have their African hair,” he said.
Taapopi called on the ministry to establish guidelines on hairstyles and take in to account that we are Africans. These remarks were made at a press conference held on Sunday.
Nanso says it will not tolerate any learner being sent home as a result of their hair.
Besides that, Nanso also calls on learners to make the process easy by keeping their hair neat and clean until clarity is provided.
“For now, no learner should be dismissed from schools because of their hairstyle,” Taapopi said.
The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) continues to stand strong with the learners as they address the issue of learners being dismissed because of their hairstyles.
According to Nanso the hair issue has been recurring in their engagements with learners and sparked debates nationally.
Based on a letter forwarded by the education ministry’s executive director, Sanet Steenkamp, “no learner must be sent home as a result of their hair as it goes against constitutional provision, namely Article 8.”
However, according to a press statement released by Nanso dated 7 February 2021, the ministry of education has written to the attorney-general’s office requesting guidance on the way forward.
The president of Nanso, Simon Taapopi, says the issue of dismissing learners from school has a racial connotation.
“It is mostly black learners who are not allowed to have afros, while their white counterparts are allowed to have their hair naturally, while the black learners cannot have their African hair,” he said.
Taapopi called on the ministry to establish guidelines on hairstyles and take in to account that we are Africans. These remarks were made at a press conference held on Sunday.
Nanso says it will not tolerate any learner being sent home as a result of their hair.
Besides that, Nanso also calls on learners to make the process easy by keeping their hair neat and clean until clarity is provided.
“For now, no learner should be dismissed from schools because of their hairstyle,” Taapopi said.
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