Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) has distanced itself from a press statement hovering on the social media indicating that it has authorised the wearing of hijabs and dreadlocks in public schools.

On Monday, the social media was awashed with a statement saying that government has asked heads of public schools to allow learners of Islamic and Rastafarian faiths to attend classes whilst wearing their religious garbs and hairstyles.

The statement attracted debate with others praising the Ministry for the decision.

In an interview with one of the local daily papers, Ministry of Education spokesperson Lindiwe Chide described the statement as fake.

Chide emphasized that all the letters from ministries bears a signature which is not the case with the letter in question.