An Ecuadorian teacher was sanctioned for cutting the hair of his students

A video circulating on social media has caused a lot of debate among netizens. Can teachers impose a specific physical appearance on their students so that they can receive their classes? In the video piece you can see a teacher using scissors to cut students' hair as a disciplinary measure. The teacher works as a teacher of the subject of Physical Culture.

This is an instructor who belongs to the Ramón Barba Naranjo Educational Unit located in Latacunga, in the Andean province of Cotopaxi, 107 kilometers south of Quito. The incident occurred between Monday 14 and Friday, March 18, 2022. The video went viral this Wednesday.

The teacher who stars in the embarrassing action is already investigated by the District Directorate of the Ministry of Education following the dissemination of the video, the complaints of Internet users and the preventive measures of the officials of the secretary of education.

In the video you can see how students form in a column to wait their turn, and when they arrive at the teacher he uses scissors to cut their pigtails or bangs. All students lower their heads with resignation. The teacher takes the hair of the young people with one hand and with the other scissors without doubt or clemency. Young people comply with this provision against their will and without the permission of their parents.

In Ecuador, some educational institutions still require students to wear short hair to their students. However, intercultural education is guaranteed by a law of the same name and by the Constitution. Both legal instruments establish principles that protect the right to identity of children and young people. Even in some indigenous cultures, of the Quichua nationality of Ecuador, such as Salasaca, Saraguro, Puruha or Panzaleo, among others, people wear long, braided hair. The Panzaleo indigenous people are located in the provinces of Pichincha, Tungurahua and Cotopaxi. The Barba Naranjo school, where this abuse occurred, is located precisely in the latter province.

Hector Tapia, provincial director of the Andean Coordinator for Human Rights (CADHU) Cotopaxi, said that “cutting a student's hair arbitrarily” incurs a “violation of image, dignity and rights.” The work of this teacher went under review and right now the educator has been separated from his duties to start the research process.

Tapia regretted that this is not the first time that such an event has occurred, recalling that these abuses are inadmissible today, because the dignity of students, as well as individual and personal decorum, individuality and self-esteem, are violated. In the last few hours, a working meeting has been held with the local Student Counseling Department to review the case and follow up due process.

The Ministry of Education reported that during the review of the case, methods and protocols were established for the clarification of the matter and it was decided, according to current regulations, to suspend the teacher from teaching duties. He also explained that an order has been issued for the transfer of the investigated professor, who will be in charge of administrative activities until the ongoing investigation process is completed. In recent months, a video of a teacher wearing a belt to punish a group of students with spanking was also broadcast.

In Ecuador, many schools and colleges still require students to have short hair in order to attend classes. This happens within the framework of different instruction manuals for the coexistence of students on school campuses. These manuals are contrary to the Constitution and current education laws.

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