Thai Court Annuls Decades-Old Rule on Student Hairstyles

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Thai PBS

 

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Administrative Court has annulled a decades-old regulation that restricted student hairstyles, a regulation dating back to the 1970s. This ruling marks a significant victory for personal freedom in educational settings, reflecting wider societal changes.

 

The court's decision, delivered on Wednesday, overturns a 1975 Education Ministry regulation, effectively ending a law that many viewed as oppressive and outdated. The regulation dictated strict hairstyle rules for both male and female students, demanding short haircuts for boys and forbidding girls from growing their hair past their ears or wearing any makeup.

 

This directive was initially imposed under the authority of a military order from 1972, aimed at grooming students into "model" citizens. The court, however, deemed it misaligned with the constitutional rights to personal freedom and the principles outlined in the Child Protection Act 2003.

 

The court emphasised that imposing such restrictions negatively impacted student welfare rather than served their best interests. The ruling resonates with a broader cultural shift towards individual liberties and has been heralded as a triumph by educational reform advocates.

 

This decision stems from a petition originally filed in 2020 by 23 students who challenged the regulation's validity, arguing it curbed personal freedoms needlessly.

 

Educational authorities have gradually softened enforcement in recent years, permitting some schools to exercise discretion over dress codes and grooming standards. With this ruling, schools now possess the autonomy to decide on hairstyle policies, often consulting parents or allowing individual school authorities to make these decisions.

However, not everyone greeted the news with enthusiasm. On social media, particularly platforms linked to the student activist group Bad Student, there were concerns over potential pushback from traditionalist educators.

 

"As long as there is no punishment, those old-style teachers will continue to violate the rights of the body of children," commented a user known as C-disc on X, formerly Twitter. This group, which emerged during youth-led democratic protests, continues to challenge the rigid educational norms of Thailand.

 

A sentiment shared on Facebook by the Office of the Administrative Court underlined a broader criticism, stating, "Thai education is overly focused on uniforms rather than on giving students skills for use in the future and preparing them for the demands of the global economy."

 

This court ruling represents a significant step forward in educational reform, potentially signalling more changes to come in how Thai society approaches issues of personal freedom and education.

 

As the Ministry of Education adapts to this new legal landscape, observers will be keenly watching how schools implement these changes, especially in a cultural context where tradition often intersects with modern ideals, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-06

 

 

[roo860]

Absolutely, these archaic rules are more fitting for North Korea.

[Robert_Smith]

What an effed up country.

 

The fact that we are even talking about these kinds of things is testament to that..

 

Regards, 

Bob.

[ikke1959]

So again a proof how conservative Thailand is with outdated laws and rules... Happily the court made a wise decision to enter in the 21st century. But of course let it be noted that hair must be decent, washed, and clean. And teachers that can not accept this decision must retire as keeping old ideas are influencing their teachings too

[Geoffggi]

The wheels of progress rotate another click .........LOL

[chilli42]

It’s about time. One step at a time I guess. All they need to do now is fix the curriculum and hire all new teachers actually educate the kids. 

[proton]

The thin edge of the wedge, they will be turning up in pink hair, nose rings and tattoos next 😗

[Olof Karlsson]

So soon you can see differenses among the girls. They will not all look a same. 🤩🥳

[Tropicalevo]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

deemed it misaligned with the constitutional rights to personal freedom

 

This might be a first for the courts.

[Guderian]

Now maybe they can also stop the ridiculous practice of all the civilian politicians dressing up in military uniforms.

 

 

 

It was fair enough for loong Prayuth, because he actually was a soldier, but Srettha's a businessman, a suit and tie would be much more sensible.

 

[watchcat]

20 minutes ago, Olof Karlsson said:

So soon you can see differenses among the girls. They will not all look a same.

 

Who looks at 10-12 year old girls?

[thecyclist]

23 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Now maybe they can also stop the ridiculous practice of all the civilian politicians dressing up in military uniforms.

 

 

 

It was fair enough for loong Prayuth, because he actually was a soldier, but Srettha's a businessman, a suit and tie would be much more sensible.

 

Srettha, the grinning ass, as a beast of burden, should come with a buffalo nose ring, would have made it easier for Tony to yank him around. 

[thecyclist]

19 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

Who looks at 10-12 year old girls?

Perverts like me. Strictly looking /glancing, no touching. 

[CanadaSam]

6 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

What an effed up country.

 

Are you living here, Bob?

[Watawattana]

What?  Next they'll be allowing children to learn how to think for themselves and form their own opinions and beliefs!!!!

[Purdey]

I admit to having long hair at school when it wasn't allowed. The Deputy Headmaster used to stop me in the corridor and ask when I was going to cut my hair. My response was always, I will cut it immediately that you promise that short hair will help me pass exams, sir.

[Surasak]

1 hour ago, chilli42 said:

It’s about time. One step at a time I guess. All they need to do now is fix the curriculum and hire all new teachers actually educate the kids. 

Perhaps in another 50 years, maybe? The quality of teaching in Thai schools is appalling, but as it only really got started about 30 years ago, its still in the practice stage.

[Tarteso]

Oh My Buddha!!!
what’s the next, free hair stile for monks ?😁

[Kinok Farang]

1 hour ago, watchcat said:

 

Who looks at 10-12 year old girls?

Jimmy Saville.

[Surasak]

4 minutes ago, Kinok Farang said:

Jimmy Saville.

Just a tad late for that I believe?!

[Theforgotten1]

Now the schools decide , the pupils are no better off 

[thesetat]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Educational authorities have gradually softened enforcement in recent years, permitting some schools to exercise discretion over dress codes and grooming standards. With this ruling, schools now possess the autonomy to decide on hairstyle policies, often consulting parents or allowing individual school authorities to make these decisions.

This is the catch. Most schools will not change their dress codes for haircut styles. I tried with my son and made him only a tad different but with the same lengths requirements and they harassed my wife for a week to make his haircut the shape of a bowl. This was well after the Education Ministry dropped their requirements for this. The school said they do not care what the laws say about this because they make the rule for their school requirements. 

[nakhonandy]

34 minutes ago, Theforgotten1 said:

Now the schools decide , the pupils are no better off 

Sadly, I imagie that will be the case at a lot of schools. 

[nakhonandy]

1 hour ago, watchcat said:

 

Who looks at 10-12 year old girls?

It's a bit difficult not to if you have a son of that age and bring/collect them to and from school.

[jcmj]

The private schools have no issues with this and hopefully the public schools will now allow it. Glad they are keeping the uniform, but wish it was only one type, not a different one for each day. The wheels go around very slowly here so only time will tell. 

[BangkokReady]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

This ruling marks a significant victory for personal freedom in educational settings

 

...but a significant loss for education.  🙄

[connda]

Hell, we had grooming standards all the way though high school.  No jeans, no "pegged" pants (of course we all had pegged pants), skirt-length rules for the gals.  The restrictions loosen in the early 70 well after I graduated.

[spidermike007]

Anytime we see something that resembles forward progress in Thailand it's cause for celebration, it's a truly astonishing development. Thailand is moving into the 21st century, the level of surprise boggles the mind. 

[Kinok Farang]

1 hour ago, Surasak said:

Just a tad late for that I believe?!

Just a flippant remark Mr Pedantic.

[billd766]

2 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Who looks at 10-12 year old girls?

Anybody who delivers and collects their children from school, especially when the children are crossing the road to get to buses on the other side. They don't only look at girls, but at ALL the children, so they don't run the children over.