GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg is calling on all school boards in St. Maarten to take a proactive position against hair discrimination before the new school year begins, rather than waiting for proposed legislation to complete the parliamentary process.
Roseburg said school boards should revise any policies that could result in students being denied entry, removed from class, expelled or treated differently because of their natural hair or hairstyle.
Her call follows renewed public discussion about grooming policies ahead of the start of the 2026-2027 academic year.
Roseburg expressed disappointment that hair discrimination remains an issue within the education system despite several developments since the matter was first brought publicly to Parliament.
In 2024, Teen Times presented Roseburg with its proposed Hair Discrimination Act, making her the first Member of Parliament to publicly raise the organization’s proposal. The initiative sought protections for students who could be penalized or excluded from school because of their natural hair or culturally significant hairstyles.
The issue advanced further in 2025 when Parliament unanimously adopted a motion addressing hair discrimination.
According to Roseburg, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport has since confirmed that the matter is receiving attention and that legislative changes are forthcoming. The Ministry has also encouraged school boards to begin addressing the issue voluntarily rather than waiting for the law to be enacted.
Roseburg said she is therefore shocked and disappointed that the matter continues to affect students while the education system faces several other challenges requiring attention.
She noted that questions concerning hair discrimination have also been submitted to the Ministry as part of the upcoming budget process. However, she said the immediate focus should be on encouraging school boards to act in the best interests of students.
“I’m therefore asking all the school boards to have that proactive approach so that no child faces any form of discrimination, also not related to their own natural hair, so that they can focus on what really matters,” Roseburg said.
She said students should be allowed to concentrate on their education and personal development without being made to feel that their natural appearance is unacceptable.
Roseburg called on school boards to ensure that the change begins with the upcoming school year in August and that no child is expelled or otherwise excluded because of hair discrimination.
She stressed that schools can maintain appropriate standards related to cleanliness, safety and conduct without imposing rules that unfairly target natural hair textures or culturally significant hairstyles.
Roseburg said ending hair discrimination would allow the education community to redirect its attention toward improving the school system and helping every child become the best and most authentic version of themselves.
“The UN charter is clear. So let’s make that change,” Roseburg said.
