The South African Human Rights Commission says tolerance of diversity must be actively promoted and encouraged in children‚ and that schools have an obligation to perform a leadership role in ensuring a culture of respect for their basic rights.The commission’s comments come after a row over school codes of conduct restricting black pupils’ choice of hairstyles‚ and allegations of the use of derogatory language against black learners by teachers and fellow pupils.“The Commission is of the view that schools have a clear obligation to adopt reasonable measures to avoid painful psychological and sometimes traumatic impact on minor learners.School governing bodies group urges overhaul of policiesThe National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) has called on the Department of Basic Education and parents to scrutinise schools’ policies.“....It is incumbent on principals‚ educators‚ School Governing Bodies‚ and parents to provide leadership in developing a culture of respect for basic rights and values at schools‚” it said in a statement on Wednesday.“The Commission considers it most urgent and necessary that tolerance for diversity be actively promoted and encouraged in children from a very young age. This can only be achieved if those who guide children throughout the developmental phase of childhood are themselves committed to such a culture of respect to be in a position to create a healthy basis for this growth through example.”The SAHRC said it would participate in a probe launched by the Gauteng MEC for Education‚ Panyaza Lesufi‚ into alleged racist practices at Pretoria High School for Girls. “Given that the MEC’s intervention is at an advanced stage‚ and given that an independent investigative team has been constituted‚ the SAHRC does not intend to run a parallel investigation.”..