Full Text | Children must not be discriminated against, says Prime Minister

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has released a statement saying children must not be discriminated against or deprived of their right to an education on the basis of their hairstyle.

He was responding to Friday's ruling in relation to a seven-year-old girl who was barred from attending school because she sports a dreadlock.

READ: Parents of dreadlocked girl incensed at ‘systemic racism’ after court ruling

According to Holness, the Government is awaiting the written judgment.

WATCH: Mom, says she will not cut child's hair

However, he says the Government does not believe that there should be any law which could be interpreted to deny access to a citizen merely on the basis of their hairstyle. 

See full statement below:
 
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has noted with concern, the developments surrounding the case of a seven-year-old Jamaican child who was barred from attending school because of the style of her hair.

“While we await the written judgement to determine the basis of the ruling issued by our Supreme Court, which by media reports, have suggested that the child’s constitutional rights were not breached. This Government does not believe that there should be any law which could be interpreted to deny access to a citizen merely on the basis of their hairstyle. We have, as a rights-sensitive Government, always maintained that our children must not be discriminated against, nor deprived of their right to an education because of socio-economic issues - such inability to afford school fees, or socio-cultural issues such as their hairstyle,” Prime Minister Holness said.

He notes that the Education Ministry has asserted over the years, that schools’ grooming rules must be rights-based, and that no student is to be prevented from admission or attendance at a public educational institution by reason of non-conformity with a school rule prohibiting a particular hairstyle in circumstances where the wearing of that hairstyle by the student is based on religious or health reasons.

The Prime Minister says however, “In the present context, this Government believes it is time to review and amend the Education Act to reflect a modern and culturally inclusive position that protects our children from being barred from any educational institution on the basis of wearing locks as an ordinary hairstyle irrespective of religious reasons.”

The Prime Minister says he is “acutely aware of the importance of this issue, especially in an era of great social and political change that is awakening our consciousness of who we are as a people.” He added that he is committed to ensuring that every child is treated fairly within Jamaica’s education system and reiterated that his Government stands firmly against discrimination against any student on any basis.

The Prime Minister said, “As we celebrate the Emancipendence period, we remain a proud people, deeply conscious of our cultural heritage and steadfastly focused on a future of equal rights and justice for all Jamaicans.”

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us @onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.