Former Member of Parliament for Kubungu, Ras Mubarak, is fighting the Education Minister over his comments on the ongoing debate on whether High School students must be made to keep their long hair.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has indicated that students cannot wear their hair long.
According to him, schools are meant to mould character, not for beauty contests; therefore, headmasters should not allow students to keep their long hair.
He made this known while addressing patrons of the 75th anniversary of Mawuli School in the Volta Region.
“There is an ongoing debate on social media about haircuts and the size and length of hair in secondary school. We will not tolerate it today; we will not tolerate it tomorrow in so long as we are moulding character. If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes, and the next day it will be the way they dress.
Therefore, as part of our disciplinary measures, headmasters and GES, you are therefore empowered to take full control of how students behave on your campuses. Anybody who thinks your child will walk into any institution of learning as if that child forgive my words—were to attend a beauty contest, the school environment is not for that purpose and is not cut for that purpose and will not tolerate that as an institution,” he stated.
But in a post shared via social media, Ras Mubarak could not fathom why the Ministry will concern itself with the looks of the students rather than focus encouraging kids to take keen interest in Sceince and Maths through competitions and awards programs, Improving the wellbeing of teachers, proper supervision of teachers – especially in the rural areas, providing safe and conducive learning environments for kids.
His post read “How does keeping kids’ hair short stop them from growing to be double-salary takers or corrupt politicians? Schools should be focusing on civics, patriotism, and community service. That’s a more effective way to shape students’ values and behaviors.
Are we all not sickened by the nauseating corruption in public service, lack of accountability and a complete breakdown of patriotism.
The Ministry should focus on encouraging kids to take keen interest in Science and Math through competitions and awards programs, Improving the wellbeing of teachers, proper supervision of teachers – especially in the rural areas, providing safe and conducive learning environments for kids, increased attention to the teaching of civics and building a country of disciplined, patriotic and sharp students. That’s what mould kids into responsible and successful adults. Substance over perfunctory gestures in our educational system”.
