Dear Editor,

Recently, a fourth form male student at Kingston Technical High School was prevented from doing his CSEC examination because the school authorities were of the opinion that his hair was too “high”.

While I support the notion that students should obey the rules of their respective educational institutions, I strongly believe that in this instance the punishment outweighs the crime.

I am very much aware of the challenges many of our schools undergo daily trying to get students to adhere to regulations, however, there comes a time when good sense and one’s initiative should prevail when dealing with youngsters.

It is most unacceptable that a few minutes before this young man was to sit his examination he was told by senior managers at the school that his hair was too “high” and that he had the option to go and get a haircut and return to sit the examination.

We all have been through examinations and we all know how nervous and tense one can be prior and during examinations.

A better solution would have been for the school authorities to get a pair of scissors and cut the youngsters hair and allow him to sit his examination.

Had this been done we would not be having this discussion. As a result of the actions of the school a number of questions are left to be answered.

Among them are who will pay the entry and examination fee for this young man to sit the examination next year? Was his right breached in terms of denying him access to sit this external examination?

What exactly does too “high” means regarding his hair? Who set this hair rule? What, if, any is the role of the Ministry of Education in this? What if this young man was from a prominent family would he have been told the same thing?

What message are we sending to our students when we are so rigid? Interestingly, Jamaica is signatory to the Convention of the Rights of the Child which clearly states that every child has a right to an education which includes access, therefore influencing a student not to sit an examination is an infringement on the rights of the child.

No one is arguing that schools should turn a blind eye to students breaking school rules, however, it is how we approach and handle such incidents which speak volumes and which set us apart in terms of being good managers and role models. Clearly, the Office of the Children’s Advocate needs to further examine this matter.

This is certainly not the way we should end Child Month 2014. “Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy” – St Matthew chapter 5 verse 7.

Wayne Campbell

waykam@yahoo.com

www.wayaine.blogspot.com