The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Gomashie, has indicated that parents must respect the policy of short hair in public schools, which is set out to ensure a holistic training of their offspring to nurture them into future leaders.

According to her, the framers of the policy had carefully thought it through before formulation, guided by principles and virtues, to promote academic activities and excellence.

She waded into the public discourse on the shorthair policy when interacting with journalists after touring some project sites in her Ketu South Constituency.

“Let us look at it holistically, what value is in spending hours having your hair done? When you can use it for other things. By the way, when you are on vacation, school rules won’t follow you home. But once you are in school, if the school says this is what you do, you obey the school rules. As simple as that and I hope the parents will take it in good faith,” she explained.

She justified the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu’s decision to direct schools to stick to the policy, adding that the decision was informed by deep thoughts.

“The policy direction the minister wants us to go with, I am sure it is based on sound judgement. We know who Haruna Idrissu is, and we know what he stands for. We know what he means for our country, and what can I do but support him,” she said.

She illustrated how her mother rescinded a decision to allow her to keep her hair after she failed to be punctual in school because she stayed back home late to get her hair done.

She asserted that such strict parenting contributed to her becoming punctual, which has been reflected in her dealings as a Member of Parliament and Minister of State.

“One day, my late mother came from Techiman, where she’d been buying food to sell in the Madina market. My hair was being braided, and this is primary school, not secondary, and it was past 8 o’clock. When she arrived and I was still at home, instead of undoing the braids, she shaved my hair and said, ‘Don’t be late to school ever again,''’ Madam Gomashie said.