Blantyre Synod schools nod to Rastafarian children

 CCAP Blantyre Synod has resolved to allow Rastafarian children sporting dreadlocks to attend its schools, overturning its 2017 resolution that banned learners in dreadlocks and Islamic headgear, hijab, in its schools.

The resolution was reached on Wednesday during a brief function held on the third day of the 34th CCAP Blantyre Synod biennial meeting in Blantyre.

Blantyre Synod education secretary Moses Kasitomu said the decision follows the Ministry of Education’s policy allowing children from the Rastafarian community to attend school in dreadlocks.

“We were sensitizing  delegates that they should not be surprised to see children in hijab or dreadlocks being admitted in our schools because that’s what the government has advised,” he said.

The High Court of Malawi ruled in May that children with dreadlocks should be admitted in public schools and directed the Ministry of Education to issue a circular communicating the same.

During the event, the synod also awarded two students from its schools who made it on the list of top 10 performers in the 2023 Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examinations

 The two students, Levison Henderson from Nampeya CCAP Primary School in Machinga and Chimwemwe Patrick Mahoria from Dzenje CCAP Primary School in Phalombe, clinched second and third positions, respectively, at national level.

Levison was selected to Dedza Secondary School while Chimwemwe was selected to Likuni Boys Secondary in Lilongwe, but the synod has offered the duo scholarships to study at the newly-established Henry Henderson School of Excellence in Blantyre.

The synod also gave the children school stationery, school bags and school shoes as a starterpack for Form One.

Nampeya CCAP Primary School head teacher Majawa Ndoya dedicated the success to teachers at the school.