Thandokhulu High School students protest about hair rules
Students want to be allowed to wear braids
Dozens of students from Thandokhulu High School in Mowbray protested today in front of the school gate, demanding a change in the school rules on hair.
The students want the school to allow girls to wear single braids which are looser than the corn-rows which are tight on the scalp.
GroundUp reporters were chased away from the school by members of the School Governing Body. But GroundUp was able to speak to some students at the fence.
Students said the school did not allow them to wear single braids.
“But the corn-rows they allow us to do are more expensive,” said one student. “They also do not last long. Single braids can last for three to four months, depending on the type of the hair, compared to corn-rows which only last two to three weeks.”
Jessica Shelver, spokesperson for Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schafer, said the school principal and deputy principals had met the Grade 10 students today to resolve the matter. The students had submitted a letter and the principal would discuss this “with all stakeholders” and give them feedback, Shelver said.
In a statement last week following protests at several schools about rules on hair, Schafer said she had issued a circular to Western Cape schools asking them to review their codes of conduct to make sure these were in line with the Constitution. She also asked schools to suggest amendments to the guidelines issued by the national Department of Basic Education.
“It is important that all schools ensure that their codes of conduct represent the inclusive society in which we live and are in line with the values of our Constitution,” Schafer said.
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