School Policies That Undermine Equality, Dignity, and Wellbeing

As a concerned parent, I am extremely troubled by this school’s discriminatory practices. Students of colour with natural, thicker hair have reportedly been told their afros are “too big,” “too exotic,” or that hair growing upward may not exceed 5cm. These rules disproportionately target Black learners and amount to racial **************.

This conduct violates Section 9 (Equality) and Section 10 (Human Dignity) of the Constitution of South Africa, as well as Department of Basic Education guidelines, which require schools to respect learners’ cultural identity and prohibit policies that unfairly disadvantage students based on race or culture. Natural hairstyles are protected, and framing racialised rules as “uniform standards” is unacceptable.

Additionally, break times are unreasonably short, providing insufficient rest for learners and teachers alike. This negatively affects wellbeing, concentration, and performance, contributing to fatigue and burnout.

I urge the school to urgently review its hair policy and daily schedule to align with constitutional obligations and Department of Education standards. Until these issues are properly addressed, I cannot recommend this institution.