(Trinidad Express) It was a hair-raising experience for 23 pupils of Trinity College, Moka, Maraval, on Tuesday, when they were blocked from crossing the stage to receive their certificates with the rest of their classmates because their hairstyles were deemed to be in breach of school rules.
Photographs of the boys’ hairstyles were shared on social media and the post garnered hundreds of comments, with the majority of people calling for an end to the “archaic” school rules, criticising the school for “segregating” the boys and accusing the school of racism.
The uproar caught the attention of Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby Dolly, who in a statement on her personal Facebook page described the matter as “unfortunate and regrettable”.
“From the accounts received, the rules of the school relevant to the required dress code for the graduation ceremony were reiterated to both students and parents. Therefore, it seems clear that those who did not conform were, or should have been aware of their breach,” she said.
Gadsby-Dolly said however that the question of the suitability of the graduation ceremony as a forum to enforce the rules of a school was a valid one.
She also said the time had come for a conversation on the standardisation of rules and the removal of subjectivity regarding school hairstyles, especially for male pupils.
She said based on the Ministry of Education’s discussions with stakeholders, decisions will be taken for implementation in the upcoming academic year in September.
According to Trinity College’s rule book, male pupils must wear their hair “short, neat and appropriate for school, as determined by the College”.
The school’s governing body is chaired by Dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral Rev Shelley-Ann Tenia, who could not be reached for comment yesterday.