PE tense in school hair protests

WHILE tension over schoolgirls’ hairstyles appear to have simmered down in Pretoria, emotions ran high in Port Elizabeth yesterday as parents, pupils and teachers met at the Lawson Brown High School.

The Port Elizabeth school has been accused of discriminating against black pupils after matric pupil Unathi Gongxeka was, allegedly, told she would not be allowed to write her trial exams until she straightens or ties up her afro hairstyle.

The school has denied that it instructed her to straighten her hair but did confirm that it had informed pupils that afros would not be allowed during the exams.

Yesterday several pupils started crying as they became overcome with emotion, while others shouted and screamed at staff and school principal Donovan Cairncross.

The Eastern Cape education department has told the school any change in policy must accept afros.

In Bloemfontein, parents at St. Michaels School for Girls confronted the principal following claims of black girls subjected to a swimming cap hair inspection.

According to the group of parents, the principal took responsibility for instructing staff to do the test which sought to identify hairstyles which would not fit into a swimming cap. The test would be discontinued. Meanwhile, Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said a similar furore over pupils’ hairstyles at Pretoria High School for Girls had been resolved after he met with the school’s governing body, who agreed to amend the code of conduct.

Pupils had also complained about being referred to as monkeys and the use of the K-word, Lesufi said the department would provide counselling for those traumatised by the ordeal.

Parent Wisani Dzivhani said he had faith in the investigation by the department.

Dzivhani, however, said the intervention should be broadened.

“Many schools are probably experiencing the same problem. The policies were developed more than 20 years ago and they cannot be applicable to the current social make-up,” he said.

Meanwhile, the national Basic Education Department spokesman, Elijah Mhlanga, said they were “in the process of reviewing all education laws and believes this matter will also find expression in the process”.