Ministry disowns circular on dress code

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) has dismissed reports that it has authorised the wearing of hijabs and dreadlocks in public schools.

There has been a circular posted on the social media purporting to authorise heads of public schools to allow learners of Islamic and Rastafarian faiths to attend classes whilst wearing their religious garbs and hairstyles.

The ‘circular’ is purported to have originated from MoEST.

But MoEST spokesperson Lindiwe Chide dismissed the circular as fake.

The fake communication reads in part: “The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology would like to inform you, all education institutions, parents and the general public that upon advice from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, all public schools in Malawi should not discriminate against children in dreadlocks and hijab, but should allow them in schools.”

In September 2012, the head teacher of Makapwa Primary School in Thyolo angered the Rastafarian community after expelling three children who refused to cut their hair in line with their religion.

This resulted in a series of protests from the Rastafarians who accused government of discriminating against their faith.