A Malawian court decided Wednesday against a government order to halt a case in which two Rastafarian children were suing the government over its education ministry policy prohibiting children with dreadlocks from enrolling in public elementary schools.
Malawian lawyers representing the families claim that the Ministry of Education in the Southern African country has long marginalized Rastafarian youngsters by forcing them to shave their hair or forcing some parents to enroll their children in private schools.
After contending that the government policy was discriminatory, the family of the two children got an injunction in 2020.
Last month, the administration requested that the case be dismissed, claiming that no such policy exists. Judge Zione Ntaba, on the other hand, stated in her decision that the government’s reasoning was surprising.
The lawyer defending the two youngsters, Chikondi Chijozi, claims that the government policy violates Rastafarians’ right to an education.
“The problem is that we are denying Rastafarian children access to education because if they are not permitted to attend government schools and do not have money, they will not be educated,” Chijozi explained.
Chijozi stated that they sought court review to determine whether the program is legal or constitutional, and whether it should be implemented in government schools.
Judge Ntaba denied the government’s application, saying she was astounded by how the attorney general handled the issue, especially because the claimants were minors.
Ntaba also postponed the judicial review hearing until March 14.
Ras Patrick Galawanda, Malawi’s Rastafarian education and peace envoy, said Ntaba’s decision is encouraging for youngsters.
