Former Member of Parliament for Kubungu, Ras Mubarak, has questioned Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu regarding the potential impact of his directive prohibiting students from having long hair on their moral development and future integrity as politicians.
“How does keeping kids’ hair short stop them from growing to be double-salary takers or corrupt politicians?”, part of his post on Facebook read.
Haruna Iddrisu has ordered that no students should be allowed to keep their long hair.
His directive stems from the ongoing debate on whether students should be allowed to maintain their long hair.
He argues that schools should focus on shaping students’ character rather than serving as platforms for encouraging unproductive behaviors, emphasizing the importance of instilling good morals essential for developing responsible adults in the future.
Haruna Iddrisu made this statement during the 75th anniversary of Mawuli School in the Volta Region.
“A discourse is currently unfolding on social media regarding the appropriateness of haircuts and the dimensions and length of hair in secondary education settings. We shall not permit it today; we shall not permit it tomorrow, as long as we are shaping character. If we allow it today, we shall inevitably find ourselves yielding to footwear tomorrow, and subsequently, to the manner in which they dress.
Consequently, as an integral aspect of our disciplinary framework, headmasters and the GES are granted the authority to exercise comprehensive oversight regarding student conduct within your educational institutions. Anyone who believes that a child can enter an educational institution as if participating in a beauty contest is wrong. The school environment is not designed for such purposes and will not accommodate that behavior as an institution,” he stated.
However, Ras Mubarak found it disturbing that the Ministry would prioritize the appearance of students over fostering a genuine enthusiasm for Science and Mathematics through competitions and award programs. He emphasized the importance of enhancing the wellbeing of teachers, ensuring effective supervision—particularly in rural areas—and creating safe, conducive learning environments for children.
