Nine Students Barred From ZIMSEC Exam Over “Inappropriate” Haircuts

The headmaster and director of a school in Harare were arrested after preventing nine candidates from sitting the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Family and Religious Studies (FRS) Ordinary Level exam because their haircuts were deemed inappropriate.

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerai Moyo, said the pair had violated the learners’ rights, as their actions went against Ministry guidelines.

Moyo acknowledged that the government does not have a clear-cut policy on haircuts but stressed that students must be smartly dressed and have haircuts that clearly identify them as students. He said:

“The headmaster and the director of the school were both arrested two weeks ago on, on Friday. And they appeared in court on Monday last week, at the Mutare Magistrate’s Court.”

Moyo further revealed that the pair were released on bail and are expected to appear again before the Mutare Magistrates’ Court on 9 December 2025.

The nine students missed the exam despite having their haircuts, as they returned 55 minutes after the exam had started.

According to Ministry policy, students are only allowed to enter the examination room within the first 15 minutes of the start time.

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