Kalifa starts at El Do school

RASTAFARIAN student Kalifa Logan finally started school Tuesday at the El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive School, a month after the new school year began. The 12-year-old shot into the spotlight two weeks ago when she was denied entry into the St Charles High School by principal Sister Adriana Noel, because of her dreadlock hairstyle. The Ministry of Education had placed Kalifa at the high school after the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exams, but they decided to transfer her to the Five Rivers Junior Secondary School after the matter became public. However, Kalifa’s mother Lynette Marshall refused to send the child to the Five Rivers school because she was assigned to a five-year school and Five Rivers was a three-year school. After much public debate on Sr Noel’s decision, the Catholic School Board intervened with  Archbishop Edward Gilbert issuing an apology to Kalifa, and offering to accommodate her at St Charles if she wished to attend the school.

Marshall refused the offer, saying she feared Kalifa would be victimised, and further discriminated against. Newsday learnt that a formal letter will be sent to the Archbishop refusing his offer. Kalifa was said to be traumatised by the episode and had to seek medical attention on at least two occasions. After discussions with the ministry, Kalifa was eventually assigned to the El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive School, which she had requested. She registered at the school Monday and was promised counselling services by the ministry. Marshall has since refused to speak to the media about the latest developments with Kalifa. Meanwhile, parents of the hearing-impaired students who have been forced to stay away from classes because of being assigned to schools without facilities, have been told by the ministry that their cases are being probed. Newsday’s questions on the matter to communications specialist Mervyn Critchlow remain unanswered, as he said he was yet to receive the answers from the relevant persons.