Thai court ends old rule, student can now choose their own hairstyles
Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court has ended a decades-old rule that controlled how students could wear their hair.
The rule, which started in the 1970s, forced boys to keep their hair short and banned girls from growing their hair past their ears. It also stopped students from wearing makeup.
According to local reports, many students and activists have fought against the rule, saying it was outdated and unfair.
The rule originally came from a military order in 1972, which wanted students to look disciplined and behave a certain way.
But the court said the rule violated students' rights and did not follow Thailand’s constitution or child protection laws.
The fight to change this rule began in 2020 when a group of 23 students filed a petition.
Over the years, schools had already started relaxing hairstyle rules, but some still enforced them strictly.
With this court decision, schools can now decide their own policies.
Not everyone is happy about this change. Some teachers and traditionalists believe strict rules help students develop discipline.
On social media, critics said that without clear punishments, some schools might still pressure students to follow the old rules. A student activist group called "Bad Student" has been pushing for more educational reforms, saying Thai schools focus too much on appearance instead of real learning.
Thailand’s education system has long been criticised for being too focused on uniforms and discipline rather than preparing students for the modern world.
The court’s decision could lead to more changes in the way schools operate.
