Archbishop challenges Ministry’s Student Deportment Policy

ST LUCIA

Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire of Castries has voiced strong opposition to the Ministry of Education’s recent directive regarding student hairstyles, warning that relaxing school deportment standards could undermine the very foundations of discipline and character formation in St Lucia’s educational system.

In a press release dated September 19, Archbishop Malzaire responded to the Ministry’s August 29 circular that instructed school administrators not to send students home or deny them classroom access due to their hairstyles.

While acknowledging that a comprehensive Student Deportment Policy is forthcoming, the Archbishop expressed concern that “what is being presented as progress may, in fact, represent the lowering of standards in a system where discipline is already under severe strain.”

The Archbishop said that education extends far beyond academics. “The values of discipline, self-respect, neatness, and moderation are not optional; they are foundational,” he stated, arguing that schools have traditionally served as guardians of these essential character-building principles.

Central to his argument is the belief that appearance standards serve a deeper educational purpose. “Hairstyles, while seemingly external, communicate much about identity, order, and values,” Archbishop Malzaire explained, pointing to prestigious institutions like St Mary’s College and St Joseph’s Convent as examples of how deportment policies have historically contributed to educational excellence.

The Archbishop was careful to clarify that his position was not rooted in discrimination. “This is not about discrimination against natural hair or about failing to appreciate cultural identity,” he stated, emphasising that young people should value their natural beauty and cultural heritage.

However, he argued that “freedom without boundaries is dangerous,” warning that allowing extreme hairstyles or fashion trends could distract from learning and promote individualism over community values.

Drawing on Catholic educational philosophy, Archbishop Malzaire asserted that “true freedom is found not in the absence of rules, but in the ability to live responsibly within them.” He argued that discipline provides the necessary framework for creativity to flourish without descending into chaos.

With 260 years of Catholic education experience in St Lucia behind his position, the Archbishop warned: “lowering standards never builds strong communities; it only weakens them.”

He concluded that denying children an education that forms both mind and character by lowering disciplinary standards would ultimately fail them, calling for policies that reinforce rather than dilute the values necessary for developing well-rounded, responsible citizens.