Should girls grow long hair at school?
EVERY woman treasures her hair. Having it grow longer or healthier is an achievement for many. But for some girls in high school, the dream is far from being achieved.
By Carol Natukunda
EVERY woman treasures her hair. Having it grow longer or healthier is an achievement for many. But for some girls in high school, the dream is far from being achieved.
In 2000, a student was dismissed from a girls’ school in Kigezi, South Western Uganda because her long hair was not part of the school uniform. Nina Achan, (not real name) was completing her A’ Levels. She did not bother to have her hair cut since she was in her final term.
However, it was not long before she was caught. That ‘fateful’ day, there had been a water crisis at the school and Achan did not have enough water to wash her hair so it could not ‘shrink!’
She was told she could not join her classmates because her long hair was too “extreme†and not uniform.
Her fellow classmates complained that said she had been treated unfairly. The issue raised questions. Did it really matter how one wore their hair as long as they were smart in their uniforms?
In spite of the hullabaloo among the students, the school administration made the rule more severe –– everyone now had to report to school with their hair not longer than one inch.
The school even had to contract a barber, who would come every weekend to cut students’ hair. This was to ensure it did not overgrow.
Many schools have over the years prohibited girls from growing long hair.
Herbert Walugembe, the deputy headteacher of Katikamu Seventh Day Adventist, says academic performance could be affected if girls were allowed to grow their hair long.
“We believe the girls would waste time looking after hair, and would have little time for revising their books or concentrating on their homework,†he says.
Dr. Chrysostom Muyingo, the headteacher of Uganda Martyrs Secondary School, Namugongo, says although he originally wanted to allow girls to grow long hair, the proposal met stiff resistance from parents and old students of the school.
“I agree with their argument that anything that is time wasting has a direct impact on the academic performance of the students,†he says.
Fagil Mandy, the executive director of FAMECON education consultancy firm believes students ought to have short hair. “It is easy to comb and manage. There would be no hassle looking after it,†he says adding, “it even looks smarter.â€
Sr. Justin Paul, the head teacher of Mount St Mary’s Namagunga, says for purposes of excellence in cleanliness and academic performance, “short hair is a must-have element and is a school rule.â€
Muyingo also emphasises the importance of cleanliness. “We expect students to bathe daily. But we understand that many girls who have long hair do not wash it daily, yet there are many chemicals that are always put in the hair. So how would you talk of cleanliness when the hair is not being washed?†he wonders.
Muyingo further says many parents argued that it would require more money for a student to buy hair oils and for hair treatment.
Walugembe also admits that it would be costly to both the student and the school. “You cannot put up a rule that everybody should grow long hair. Not everybody can afford that. So to make sure everybody is uniform and content, we emphasise short hair,†he says.
“Allowing girls to grow their hair long would mean that we put up more facilities or room to cater for it.â€
However, the issue has always brought tension between the school administration and the students’ body.
“If I only plait my hair just before I go to bed and wake up early to untie it, comb it well and tie it into a neat pony tail, what has that got to do with time wasting? After all I would be doing it outside class or studying hours,†says Elizabeth Ayesiigwa, a student at Kampala Secondary School.
Ronah Birungi, a senior six student at the same school, thinks forbidding girls from styling their hair is an indication of jealousness among teachers.
“The senior women in my school are only jealous. Long hair would only be covering my scalp, but not my eyes or mind to prevent me from reading my books They don’t want young girls to look prettier than them, and that is why they are against it,†she says.
However, there are schools, which allow girls to grow long hair like Gayaza High School. Joy Male, the school’s headteacher says she sees no problem with the practice. Depending on the upbringing of a child, Male argues, that growing or styling hair under the strict supervision of a teacher or parent would not affect the performance of a child.
Citing her school, Male says; “They don’t have a problem styling their hair in the mornings. They undo it only during the weekend, and then plait it. But throughout the week, it is serious study work. So if it is done in such a strict, yet careful manner, it may not affect their performance,†she says.
Mandy says while there might not be any general policy on how long a student’s hair should be, particular schools have the responsibility of guiding their students.
“What really matters is to guide students on how to style their hair in a way that suits the activities and discipline of the school,†he says.
But while some parents support their girls to grow long hair, others do not. For instance, Dorothy Hyuha, a parent and chairperson of the parliamentary committee on social services says: “Given a girl at O’ Level, for instance, there are various disciplines she has to study. So where would she get time to care for the long hair? I have passed through this stage and as an experienced teacher, I think long hair takes much attention. Short hair is easier to look after.â€
However, Maggie Kigozi, a parent and executive director of Uganda Investment Authority, (UIA) says: “I would encourage my daughter to grow her hair long. As much as excelling academically cannot be under looked, looking nice and presentable is equally important,†she says.
Forty-five-year-old Alice Ndaaba, a businesswoman in the city centre and a mother of seven, says school rules against long hair should be optional, that individual students should make their own choice.
“Young girls are somewhat funny. If you refuse them to do something, they will still do it against all odds, even if it means an indefinite expulsion,†she says.
EVERY woman treasures her hair. Having it grow longer or healthier is an achievement for many. But for some girls in high school, the dream is far from being achieved.
In 2000, a student was dismissed from a girls’ school in Kigezi, South Western Uganda because her long hair was not part of the school uniform. Nina Achan, (not real name) was completing her A’ Levels. She did not bother to have her hair cut since she was in her final term.
However, it was not long before she was caught. That ‘fateful’ day, there had been a water crisis at the school and Achan did not have enough water to wash her hair so it could not ‘shrink!’
She was told she could not join her classmates because her long hair was too “extreme†and not uniform.
Her fellow classmates complained that said she had been treated unfairly. The issue raised questions. Did it really matter how one wore their hair as long as they were smart in their uniforms?
In spite of the hullabaloo among the students, the school administration made the rule more severe –– everyone now had to report to school with their hair not longer than one inch.
The school even had to contract a barber, who would come every weekend to cut students’ hair. This was to ensure it did not overgrow.
Many schools have over the years prohibited girls from growing long hair.
Herbert Walugembe, the deputy headteacher of Katikamu Seventh Day Adventist, says academic performance could be affected if girls were allowed to grow their hair long.
“We believe the girls would waste time looking after hair, and would have little time for revising their books or concentrating on their homework,†he says.
Dr. Chrysostom Muyingo, the headteacher of Uganda Martyrs Secondary School, Namugongo, says although he originally wanted to allow girls to grow long hair, the proposal met stiff resistance from parents and old students of the school.
“I agree with their argument that anything that is time wasting has a direct impact on the academic performance of the students,†he says.
Fagil Mandy, the executive director of FAMECON education consultancy firm believes students ought to have short hair. “It is easy to comb and manage. There would be no hassle looking after it,†he says adding, “it even looks smarter.â€
Sr. Justin Paul, the head teacher of Mount St Mary’s Namagunga, says for purposes of excellence in cleanliness and academic performance, “short hair is a must-have element and is a school rule.â€
Muyingo also emphasises the importance of cleanliness. “We expect students to bathe daily. But we understand that many girls who have long hair do not wash it daily, yet there are many chemicals that are always put in the hair. So how would you talk of cleanliness when the hair is not being washed?†he wonders.
Muyingo further says many parents argued that it would require more money for a student to buy hair oils and for hair treatment.
Walugembe also admits that it would be costly to both the student and the school. “You cannot put up a rule that everybody should grow long hair. Not everybody can afford that. So to make sure everybody is uniform and content, we emphasise short hair,†he says.
“Allowing girls to grow their hair long would mean that we put up more facilities or room to cater for it.â€
However, the issue has always brought tension between the school administration and the students’ body.
“If I only plait my hair just before I go to bed and wake up early to untie it, comb it well and tie it into a neat pony tail, what has that got to do with time wasting? After all I would be doing it outside class or studying hours,†says Elizabeth Ayesiigwa, a student at Kampala Secondary School.
Ronah Birungi, a senior six student at the same school, thinks forbidding girls from styling their hair is an indication of jealousness among teachers.
“The senior women in my school are only jealous. Long hair would only be covering my scalp, but not my eyes or mind to prevent me from reading my books They don’t want young girls to look prettier than them, and that is why they are against it,†she says.
However, there are schools, which allow girls to grow long hair like Gayaza High School. Joy Male, the school’s headteacher says she sees no problem with the practice. Depending on the upbringing of a child, Male argues, that growing or styling hair under the strict supervision of a teacher or parent would not affect the performance of a child.
Citing her school, Male says; “They don’t have a problem styling their hair in the mornings. They undo it only during the weekend, and then plait it. But throughout the week, it is serious study work. So if it is done in such a strict, yet careful manner, it may not affect their performance,†she says.
Mandy says while there might not be any general policy on how long a student’s hair should be, particular schools have the responsibility of guiding their students.
“What really matters is to guide students on how to style their hair in a way that suits the activities and discipline of the school,†he says.
But while some parents support their girls to grow long hair, others do not. For instance, Dorothy Hyuha, a parent and chairperson of the parliamentary committee on social services says: “Given a girl at O’ Level, for instance, there are various disciplines she has to study. So where would she get time to care for the long hair? I have passed through this stage and as an experienced teacher, I think long hair takes much attention. Short hair is easier to look after.â€
However, Maggie Kigozi, a parent and executive director of Uganda Investment Authority, (UIA) says: “I would encourage my daughter to grow her hair long. As much as excelling academically cannot be under looked, looking nice and presentable is equally important,†she says.
Forty-five-year-old Alice Ndaaba, a businesswoman in the city centre and a mother of seven, says school rules against long hair should be optional, that individual students should make their own choice.
“Young girls are somewhat funny. If you refuse them to do something, they will still do it against all odds, even if it means an indefinite expulsion,†she says.