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SAHRC investigates St Michael's 'neatness test'

───   CATHY DLODLO 16:41 Wed, 28 Sep 2016

SAHRC investigates St Michael's 'neatness test' | News Article

Bloemfontein - The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has launched an investigation into a “neatness test” that highlighted the hair policy of St Michael's School for Girls in Bloemfontein.


Learners and parents staged a protest outside the school last month. Their refusal to attend classes and outcries from some parents prompted intervention by the Free State Education department. 

The school conducted a “neatness test” amid a national debate in the media and social media on “policing” of “black learners’" hair that was sparked by learners at Pretoria Girls High School. St Michael’s, who has since revised its policy, initially deemed learners whose hair do not fit under a swimming cap in violation of the school's code of conduct. 

SAHRC Provincial Manager Buang Jones says a formal notice setting out the allegations, that the "neatness test" only applied to black learners, has been sent to the school.

"The attention of the Commission was drawn after an OFM News report that the school administers a neatness test. The allegations are that the neatness test is only administered to black learners. We requested the school to provide us with their code of conduct, the minutes of the meeting which the School Governing Body held with regard to the possible amendment of the clause, and the draft version or attended amendment of the Code of Conduct."

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