Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid says by the next school year, clear policy guidelines will be established to govern hair style and grooming for all schools.

He said under the current regulations, there is no specific policy by the Ministry, to deal with the issues.

Senator Reid informed that Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Maurice Smith has been tasked to undertake an island wide consultation with stakeholders on the matter, and is to provide him with a feedback by March 2017.

Speaking in an interview with JIS News on Friday (September 9), the Education Minister said given the debate taking place on the issue, the Ministry will be establishing clear and acceptable standards for schools.

“Our response, as a Ministry, is to formulate a policy that will govern both private and public schools,” he said.

Mr. Reid said that while he prepares the policy, stakeholders need to dialogue with schools, to ensure that the rules that now exist, are clear, and “once stakeholders sign off, you are obliged to follow those rules and regulations.”

Source: Jamaica Information Service