The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology would like to advise the public that no student was suspended last week from the C.R. Walker Senior High School due to any infraction of the Ministry of Education's school code.
We at the Ministry of Education appreciate the natural and cultural heritage of The Bahamas and of the responsibility of the educational process to reflect and respond to that cultural heritage with tolerance and understanding. To this end, young women have always been free to attend school with their hair in its natural state provided it is properly groomed and neat.
One of the requirements of the Bahamas National High School Diploma is that every student must now complete twenty (20) hours of job readiness training in senior high school. This includes training in grooming (including hair), hygiene, filling out a job application, preparing a resume, proper manners,etc. This has been included as part of the graduation requirement because employers have long bemoaned the fact that graduates are ill prepared for transition to the workforce and have a lack of understanding in these basic areas. The job readiness training is intended to address these deficiencies.
Students are in school to receive a quality education and to be prepared for tertiary education and/or the workforce. Any decision regarding grooming is done so at the discretion of the school's administration and we have every confidence in their ability to make decisions in the best interest of the students and the school at large.
Education is everyone's business and we encourage parents to continue to work with school administrators and teachers to ensure that our children receive a quality education and get the maximum benefit from their educational experience.
We are fully cognizant of the sensitivity of this matter and are confident that after review with the school administrator, the school board and the individuals involved, the matter will be amicably resolved.
