Seven school-girls from the Etoshapoort Junior Secondary School were told to loosen their weaves (artificial hair) minutes before they will write their examination this week in Outjo.

After unsuccessfully meeting the Principal of Etoshapoort Junior Secondary School Priscilla Nambahu on Monday, the girls went to community-activist turned United Democratic Front (UDF) councilor Magreth Adaman Pieters to seek her intervention.

The girls with tears in their eyes narrated their ordeal to councilor Pieters. “The principal told us to go back and loosen our weaves because we are not allowed to wear them. At least she (principal) must allow us to write exams first,” they narrated. According to another school-girl the weaves are not allowed but the principal has told them that weaves can be allowed when the school term is about to end.

“Madam Nambahu must at least allow you (girls) to write exams before sending you off to loosen your weaves’,” Councilor Pieters advised the girls.

The councilor and the girls then walked to the school, about 200 meters away, to see the principal. “Are you not having high blood pressure as this kids trouble you,” Principal Nambahu reportedly asked Pieters while at the school reception. “No”, replied Pieters as she lead her and the girls into her office for a closed door meeting.

“The meeting was fruitful and the girls will be allowed to write the exams,” Pieters told Informanté as she was leaving the office. When asked if any government policy or act bars learners from wearing weaves during exams, Nambahu replied; “I am not allowed to talk to the media.”

The UDF councilor later told Informanté that the girls were informed to behave and take their education seriously as it is the key to the future.

Some of the seven girls from Grade 8 did not write one of the papers as the responsible teacher reportedly told them that exam papers were finished. ‘We wanted to ask the Head of Department (HOD) who told us to go back home and loosen our weaves why the exam papers disappeared, but due to fear we did not ask,” one of the girls told Informanté.

Clemans Miyanicwe, is a freelance community reporter in the Kunene region.