The Daily Times
28 February 2025
Thomas Kacheke
The Ministry of education has said it will institute an investigation into reports that some Government schools are still not enrolling children from the Rastafarian community, especially those who have dreadlocks.
The High Court ruled that such children should be granted entry into schools. Represented by lawyer Chikondi Chijozi, on behalf of Women Lawyers Association of Malawi and supported by Southern Africa Litigation Centre (Sale) and Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (Chreaa), the children heaved a sigh of relief when High Court declared that a policy banning dreadlocks in government schools was unconstitutional.
But two years down the line, The Daily Times has found that some government and religious schools are still refusing to embrace the children.
Chijozi, who is also chairperson for the Malawi Human Rights Commission, said, prior to the court judgement, a lot of Rastafarian children were not allowed in government schools.
“We were receiving a lot of reports, but after the judgment was given, there has been huge progress, such that many children are being enrolled in these schools, with some being enrolled in private schools.
“However, there have been a few cases where some children have been denied enrolment, but these have been isolated cases that have been dealt with,” she said.
Chijozi said they were sure that, by and by, all schools would be welcoming places for Rastafarian children “ It took a number of years to get where we are today “she said.
In 2023 Uhulu Magalasi also struggled to be enrolled at Chipasula Secondary School on the ground that she had dreadlocks. At that time, he pleaded with the school management to reserve his space.
“When I got selected to Chipansula School in 2023 the cases involving Rastafarian children was already in court. As such I asked the school management to reserve my space while waiting for the outcome of the court case.
Luckily the court ruled in our favour and I went to the school to claim my place and was enrolled while in dreadlocks. I am therefore thankful to human rights defenders for representing us,” he said.
Meanwhile spokesperson for the Ministry of Education Mphatso Nkuonera has said they will investigate and act on government schools that are failing to respect the court judgement.
“We would like to remind and advice all heads and school managers across the country that we recognise the court judgement that was passed in favour of the Rastafarians. All children with dreadlocks should be allowed in class and we, as a ministry, issued a statement in agreement with the same,” Nkuonera said.
He was quick to say the ministry had not received a formal complaint from any Rastafarian parent concerning their children.
Nkuonera then urged people to report to the relevant authorities when they face problems in relations to the admission of Rastafarian children to public schools.
In 2017, a Rastafari child was refused registration by the principal of a school and the Ministry of Education on the basis that it was a policy that all learners have short, combed hair.
