The Ministry of Education has put a temporary ban on the hosting of performing artistes in public and private schools across the country until new guidelines come in place.
According to the August 1 circular from the acting Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports, Ms Jane Egau, all school heads should desist from inviting singers who dance erotic dances while half-naked when performing at school functions.
“On July 11, the country woke up to the shocking videos that were circulating on social media to portray the indecency that is allowed in our children’s schools. It is now clear that there have been several of these totally unacceptable and offensive functions allowed in schools in the names of extra curriculum and entertainment activities,” the circular reads in part.
Ms Egau said that schools should limit themselves to extra curriculum activities in sports, games and debates, asserting that if schools need to entertain themselves, they should engage in acting plays and arrange concerts.
“A senior management meeting that was held at the Ministry of Education and Sports on July 18, resolved that the ministry should provide guidelines on the nature and conduct of co-curriculum and entertainment activities allowed in schools,” she said.
Schools are thus asked to desist from hiring artistes until the ministry issues the intended guidelines.
A number of schools have on several occasions hired performing artistes to entertain their learners, something that attracted public debate on whether these should be abolished or not.
Parents were against the indecent artistes who dance erotically with their underage children.