A ban on “hair edges” in Jamaican schools has ignited a global debate over discipline, grooming, and student rights, after St. Andrew High School implemented a new policy at the start of the school year. The school’s Instagram post prohibits hairstyles that slick hair along the forehead and temples, saying such looks are not “neat” or “school-ready.”
“Please be advised that the wearing of ‘edges’ is now officially banned on campus. Remember, curtains belong in the house, not on foreheads! Let’s keep our looks neat and school-ready,” the post read. While some Jamaicans, including alumni, defended the policy as a measure to maintain discipline and uphold standards, others—particularly commentators abroad—criticized it as policing Black children’s hair.
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Speaking at Shortwood Teachers’ College’s 140th anniversary celebration on Wednesday, Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon addressed the issue in the broader context of discipline in Jamaican schools. She argued that many students come from homes where lessons on citizenship and responsibility are lacking.
“School is not like when I went to school or when you went to school. We have our children coming to school from homes where nobody cares to teach them how to be a good citizen. They’re not getting it at home or in the community,” Morris Dixon said.
The minister emphasized that teachers often assume parental roles, providing guidance and instilling discipline when it is missing at home. “Our classrooms have to be seen as places of re-socialisation because our children are not learning it at home, and so we have to be strong,” she added.
Since the school year began, reports have emerged of students being locked out for breaching dress codes or grooming rules. Morris Dixon clarified the ministry’s stance, stressing that no student should be denied entry. Instead, infractions should be addressed collaboratively with parents to ensure compliance while maintaining respect for students.
However, she made clear that the Ministry does not intend to relax school rules. “The vision we have for Jamaica—and a vision that I know can be a reality—will not happen if we do not instil discipline in our children,” Morris Dixon said, linking order in schools to the country’s future growth.
She also stressed that discipline must be balanced with student safety and respect. “As minister of education, my focus is on having disciplined school environments, while also ensuring our children are valued and kept safe,” she said.
Morris Dixon is expected to retain the education portfolio when Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness announces his new Cabinet next week.
