WILLEMSTAD – A letter sent by the Albert Schweitzer College to parents has sparked discontent after the school’s “care team” reprimanded families over students’ failure to comply with school regulations regarding hair length. 

The letter, addressed to “Dear parents/guardians,” was sent the day after the start of the new school year. It states: “Yesterday was the first day of school, and as always the school rules were clearly communicated and are well known to all students. Yet we must unfortunately conclude that your child has violated one or more of these rules.” 

The school stressed that students who break the rules will not be admitted to class. One controversial regulation, which applies only to boys, requires hair to be no longer than three centimeters. “It is unfortunate that the rules are not respected by all students. They are not meant to punish, but to provide structure, safety, and respect within the school,” the letter explains. 

The Albert Schweitzer College falls under the Association for Protestant Christian Education (VPCO), founded in 1950 by the Methodist Church, the Evangelical Brethren, the Reformed Church, and the United Protestant Congregation. Today, the association oversees six schools for primary and secondary education with around 3,200 students. One of the key reasons parents choose VPCO schools is because Dutch is the language of instruction. 

The issue of hair regulations has also surfaced on Sint Maarten, though at Roman Catholic schools. There, Education Minister Melissa Gumbs has announced plans to submit a draft law to parliament later this year that would prohibit discrimination based on hair length and other outdated rules.