Fi We Children Foundation welcomes JC’s revised hair grooming policy
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Advocacy Organisation Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF) says it applauds the recent decision by Jamaica College (JC) to revise its hair grooming policy, describing it as a meaningful step toward dismantling discriminatory practices rooted in Jamaica’s colonial past.
“What is it that stops an African-Jamaican student from growing his hair, while his Caucasian or Asian classmate can? I simply cannot understand that justification. To me, this is a colonial vestige that is prejudice and discriminatory,” shared Jamaica College Principal Wayne Robinson in discussions with FWCF.
OS, a Lower Sixth student, welcomed the change, noting that the revised policy is more inclusive and helps eliminate discrimination, especially against students with natural Afro-textured hair.
In September, FWCF publicly condemned the practice of locking students out of schools on grooming grounds, emphasising that such actions violate a child’s right to education and freedom from discrimination—protections enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Jamaica in 1991.
Africka Stephens, FWCF Executive Founder and Attorney-in-Waiting, praised Robinson’s decision as a reaffirmation of black identity and cultural dignity.
“Frantz Fanon, in Black Skin, White Masks, urges us to free ourselves from the white gaze,” Stephens said, adding that “Too often, the native intellectual is forced to confront ideas and systems that strip him of his own identity. This change is a necessary step toward reclaiming that space.”
Stephens continued: “If you are a student or parent whose child has been barred from school due to grooming infractions, please reach out to us. FWCF is not suggesting that discipline has no place in schools – discipline is essential for a well-functioning society. We are insisting that rules must not perpetuate discriminatory ideals that disproportionately disadvantage black students.”
Jillanna Blackstock, legal consultant at FWCF, noted that Jamaica College’s stance sets an important precedent for other institutions, reinforcing that school policies must evolve to respect the cultural realities and identities of the children they serve.
