The Tribune

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION director Lionel Sands yesterday denied speculation that a female student at a local government high school would be "banned" from attending her senior graduation because of her hair colour.

However, in an interview with The Tribune, Mr Sands said the student was not allowed to take senior class photos because she was not dressed according to the school's requirements.

Over the weekend, the mother of student, Nykoya Rolle, posted on social media that her daughter, who is on the honour roll at C R Walker, was told by an official of the school that she "was not allowed to take pictures because her hair was bleached".

Ms Rolle said her daughter's hair is naturally light brown and with shades of blonde.

She also alleged that the school threatened to remove her daughter's name off the graduation list and "not allow her to walk and receive her diploma".

"As they were about to take a group picture my daughter was confronted and told that her hair was bleached and that she was not allowed to take pictures," Ms Rolle claimed, adding that her daughter was removed from the area.

"...As a parent, this is very disappointing that my daughter did not enjoy the last year in school because of hair issues, those 'so called hair issues' did not stop her from attaining the necessary graduation requirements.

"They have also threatened my daughter that they can pull her name from the diploma list so that she is not allowed to walk and receive her diploma on June 14," she claimed.

"My daughter came home from school today crying, this is bullying from (an official) who should know better how to treat students."

Mr Sands said when he received a message over the weekend in reference to the matter he called the superintendent of the school to get some clarity.

"The students were required to come to school to do the photo shoot and they were given specific instructions on what they were supposed to be dressed in," Mr Sands said.

"As far as I know, it had nothing to do with the colour of her hair, the child was not dressed the way she was told to be dressed. If that is the school's requirement and you come dressed a certain way you will not be allowed to participate in school activities. She was the only one that was not allowed to participate as far as I know but that does not change graduation. She will be allowed to graduate."

The is the second time C R Walker high school has recently come under fire because of a student's appearance.

Last year, another parent complained on Facebook, and later to a local broadcaster, that her daughter had been reprimanded and threatened with suspension by an official from C R Walker because of her Afro hairstyle, saying it needed to be groomed. The story was widely shared on Facebook and was picked up by several international news outlets.

The matter was resolved when the Department of Education intervened.