KINGSTON, Jamaica — Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF) has condemned the recent lockout of students from school due to grooming infractions, arguing that this violates children’s rights and underscores the urgent need for legislative reform and updated policy guidance in Jamaican schools.

“Students should never be denied access to learning because of their hairstyle or appearance. These recent lockouts are stark reminders that colonial-era ideals of discipline still linger in our schools, where they have no place. The false belief that rules must be followed blindly undermines the true purpose of law, which is to protect rights consistently,” said Africka Stephens, executive founder of FWCF.

“At Fi We Children Foundation, we call for immediate legislative action and policy clarity to safeguard every child’s right to education, dignity and self-expression. Our children deserve classrooms free from exclusion and discrimination,” Stephens continued.

The foundation is now calling on Minister of Education and Youth Dr Dana Dixon and the Parliament to urgently amend the law and establish clear, non-discriminatory national guidelines.

“No school administrator should have unchecked discretion to dictate grooming rules, as this creates conditions for subjective and unequal enforcement,” the foundation said.

FWCF said the recent Court of Appeal decision in Virgo v ZV (a child) highlights the harmful impact of arbitrary grooming rules on students’ education and well-being.

“Such exclusions disproportionately affect Black students, perpetuating outdated and discriminatory standards of appearance. They are also inconsistent with Jamaica’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which guarantees every child the right to education, dignity and freedom from discrimination,” it said.

“While the Education Act provides general oversight, its silence on grooming policies leaves wide gaps for subjective and inconsistent enforcement. Too often, these rules reflect colonial-era ideals of discipline rather than contemporary principles of fairness. The belief that ‘rules must be followed blindly’ is a distortion of the rule of law, as it ignores constitutional protections.

“The Constitution of Jamaica (s.13) guarantees freedom of expression, association and protection from discrimination. Using the NIDS (National Identification System) proportionality test, it is clear that barring students from school for hairstyles or clothing choices such as tight pants is a disproportionate and legally vulnerable restriction,” the foundation said.

At least 34 students of Calabar High School in St Andrew have been refused entry to the institution at the start of the academic year on Monday due to black hair dye, incorrect belt buckles, missing buttons from their khakis, tight pants, and incorrect hair lengths.

READ: Lockout at Calabar