APA-Zomba (Malawi) A court in Malawi has ordered the Ministry of Education to allow children with dreadlocks to be enrolled in public schools across the country.
In a landmark judgement on Monday, Zomba High Court judge Zione Ntaba ruled in favour of a petition brought by two Rastafarian parents after their children were barred from attending public schools in Zomba and Blantyre.
Ali Nasolo and Mahala Mbewe lodged a complaint against the ministry after their children were stopped from attending Malindi Secondary School and Blantyre Girls Primary School, respectively.
Ntaba ruled that barring children with dreadlocks from attending school was a breach of their right to education.
“The Ministry of Education should issue a statement to allow all children of the Rastafarian community with dreadlocks to be allowed in class. The circular should be done by 30th June,” Ntaba ruled.
The case, which has been running since 2020, was filed by three human rights organisations on behalf of the Rastafarian community in the country.
JN/APA