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The Achimota Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has mounted a strong defense for the school administration in its decision not to admit two freshmen with dreadlocks.
PTA President Dr. Andre Kwasi-Kumah, in a statement Tuesday, also pledged to support school officials in any decision they make on the issue.
Citing the school’s revised laws, (August 2020), Section H (General Appearance), Article Three which states that “Students must keep their hair short, simple and natural,” said Dr. Kwasi-Kumah.
He noted that the decision, therefore, was strictly in line with the school’s rules and regulations.
“This age old rule has avoided unnecessary attention and wasted time with ‘non-school hairstyles. Any exception to this rule for religious reasons would open the floodgates for all kinds of hairstyles and would generate indiscipline ”, he affirmed.
Authorities at Achimota School on Thursday denied admission to the two students who were assigned there under the Computer School Placement System (CSSPS) because school rules did not allow the admission of students with dreadlocks.
According to JoyNews sources, school authorities were emphatic that unless students cut their hair [dreadlocks], will not be admitted.
Many Ghanaians were not satisfied with the school’s decision not to admit the student even though the constitution requires that no person be discriminated against.
However, the PTA president indicated that for the purposes of education, the constitution leaves the welfare of people who have not reached the age of 18 generally in the hands of the school in which they apply for enrollment.
Furthermore, we believe that Article 14 (1) (e) of the 1992 Ghana Constitution states: “Everyone has the right to personal liberty and no one shall be deprived of his or her personal liberty except in the following cases and in accordance with permitted procedure by law- (e) for the purpose of the education or welfare of a person who has not attained the age of eighteen; “It gives the school the right to establish such rules to promote education.
“Therefore, we support the principal and welcome into our fold parents who are ready to abide by the rules and regulations of Achimota school,” he emphasized.
