August 28, 2026
FWCF to take legal action over exclusion of students for grooming infractions
Written byIRIEFM NEWS
Fi We Children Foundation says it is preparing to take legal action to challenge the exclusion of children from school due to grooming infractions.
The foundation says it plans to pursue constitutional proceedings on behalf of affected students, through their parents.
This is in light of the upcoming start of the new academic year next month and concern that school administrators will again bar students for arbitrary grooming breaches when classes resume.
In a statement, the foundation cited among the issues, school rules governing the length and style of Black boys’ hair as well as requirements relating to other hairstyles, belt buckles and varying aspects of students’ appearance.
FWCF says excluding students from school over such infractions could infringe constitutional rights including freedom of expression, protection of the rights of the child and in some cases the right to education.
The foundation is calling for legislative reform, saying the issue highlights the urgent need to examine the scope of the authority granted to school boards under Jamaica’s education laws.
It says while schools have a legitimate interest in establishing standards and maintaining discipline, that authority cannot be exercised as an unfettered power to exclude children from education over rules that may be arbitrary, disproportionate or inconsistent with constitutional protections.
It said discipline has a legitimate role in education but physically excluding a child from school should not be the default response to a grooming infraction.
The foundation said it is prepared to test these practices before the courts and will advocate for a school system in which discipline, dignity and children’s constitutional rights can coexist.
