Thai court annuls 50-year-old student hairstyle regulation
The Supreme Administrative Court has annulled a long-standing Education Ministry regulation, originally established 50 years ago, which restricted students’ hairstyles. This final decision, delivered yesterday, March 5, resolves a contentious issue that has involved educators, students, and parents.
The regulation, implemented in 1975, was immediately nullified by the court for infringing upon individual freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and being out of step with contemporary society.
The court highlighted that enforcing this rule adversely affected students and contradicted the Child Protection Act of 2003.
This directive dictated acceptable hairstyles for male and female students in schools under the ministry’s supervision.
Boys were prohibited from having beards or moustaches and were required to keep their hair short, while girls could not grow their hair beyond their ears or wear makeup. The intention was to cultivate students into model citizens for their families and the nation.
The regulation originated from a military junta’s order in 1972 concerning appropriate student hairstyles. The court noted that neither the military order nor the ministry’s regulation served the students’ best interests.
This decision represents a triumph for 23 students who initially appealed to the Administrative Court in 2020 to overturn the 1975 regulation.
Since last year, the ministry has adopted a more lenient approach towards student hairstyles and dress codes. The court’s ruling now delegates the responsibility of hairstyle regulation to individual schools, with some allowing parents to decide or leaving it to school authorities or joint teacher-parent committees.
Despite the legal resolution, comments on social media, particularly from the Bad Student group, indicate ongoing dissatisfaction. Some expressed concerns about teachers who continue to target students with long hair without facing repercussions.
“As long as there is no punishment, those old-style teachers will continue to violate the rights of the body of children.”
Another comment on the Office of the Administrative Court’s Facebook page criticised the Thai education system for prioritising uniforms over equipping students with future-ready skills for the global economy, reported Bangkok Post.
Bad Student, a student activist group advocating for democracy and greater freedom in schools, emerged during calls for the removal of the military regime and the subsequent government led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who assumed power following the 2014 military coup and later became prime minister.
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