This comes after more than 50 pupils were yesterday not allowed to enter the school's premises because their hairstyles were allegedly against the school rules.
The pupils were later allowed to enter the school premises after Katima Mulilo circuit inspector Dile Limbo intervened.
Regional chairperson Punaete Kandji yesterday said this was the third time this year that pupils at the school were forced to miss out on essential learning hours because of their hairstyles.
“This is a learning institution where teaching is supposed to take place. However, if the pupils are locked out, who are they teaching?
“There is no scientific proof that the state of the pupils' hair has a direct impact on learning.
“This is infuriating. How are we supposed to advocate quality education if such things are happening at schools?” he asked.
Kandji said the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture is partly to blame, since it directed that no pupil would be sent away due to their appearance, yet is not enforcing this.
“We attempted to have a meeting with the school principal, Richard Musilizo, but failed,” he said.
Executive director of education, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp in February said: “Schools are hereby directed to nullify any rule that forces pupils to shave their heads in uniformity or banishes pupils from school due to their hairstyles, as this is in violation of their human rights as provided for by the Constitution.”
The directive further said the ministry supports internal school rules, but these rules must not be discriminatory or deny pupils access to education due to their appearance.
The directive said there is no scientific evidence supporting that short and uniform hairstyles contribute to improved discipline within the school environment.
A pupil who yesterday spoke to The Namibian anonymously, said they were indeed locked out of the school because of their “inappropriate” hairstyles.
“The principal wants all of us to cut our hair, even girls. Some girls were told to remove their hair at the gate before they could enter. We were also warned to stop calling Nanso to school,” a pupil said.
Zambezi regional education director Jost Kawana yesterday said he was informed that the involved pupils were sent away because of arriving late at school.
Kawana could not say why the ministry's directive is not implemented at schools in the Zambezi region.
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