By Roselyn Ganu
The standard hair policy in Ghana’s Senior High Schools mandates that students, especially females keep their hair short. The public debate over whether this policy should be reviewed, follows a video shared on social media last week, where a female form one student, with a seemingly distraught face, was seen crying while at a barber shop, during a hair cut in preparation for her first year at the Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School at Tanoso in Kumasi.
At the 75th Anniversary Celebtation of Mawuli School in Ho, the Minister of Education, Haruna Idrisu, waded in on the matter, directing School Heads to ensure a stricter adherence to the regulations at Senior High Schools, reigniting the debate on low haircuts for girls in Senior High.
The mandate for standardized short or trimmed haircuts for student particularly female entrants in Ghana’s public senior high schools seem to be one of the most visible and contentious policies in recent times. Following debate on social media, the Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu expressed concern over indiscipline in schools, saying that Senior High Schools are not places for beauty contests and Senior High Students should maintain the mandate of low-cut hair and adhere to discipline and order. According to Haruna Idrisu, maintaining discipline is crucial for character development.
“We will not tolerate it today or we will not tolerate it tomorrow, in so long as molding character.”
“If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes, and the next day it will be the way they [students] dress.”
“Therefore, as part of our disciplinary measures, headmasters and GES, you are accordingly empowered to take full control of how students behave on your campuses.”
“So, anybody who thinks that your child will walk into any institution of learning, as if that child, forgive my words, was to attend a beauty contest, the school environment will not for that purpose and not cut for that purpose and we will not tolerate that as an institution,” the minister stated.
Meanwhile, Former NDC Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak is not the least enthused about the position taken by the education minister, Haruna Iddrisu on the fresh debate over whether or not to allow Ghanaian students at basic and secondary education to keep their hair. In a face book post, Mr. Mubarak said how does keeping kids’ hair short stop them from growing to be double-salary takers or corrupt politicians?” he asked rhetorically in a post.
Rather, he said schools should be focusing on civics, patriotism, and community service. That is a more effective way to shape students’ values and behaviors.
For many young women, hair is a crucial aspect of identity and self-esteem.
Some youth share thoughts on the low hair cut conversation.
As the debate continues, the question of respecting cultural identity as well as the constitutional rights of students amidst keeping a low-cut hair remains.
