Thailand: Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court has annulled a 50-year-old directive regulating student hairstyles, contributing to students’ greater freedom over their appearance.
The directive, issued in 1975 under a military junta, mandated short hair for boys and ear-length bobs for girls. While many schools had gradually loosened their enforcement, some continued adhering to the old rules—sometimes resorting to cutting students’ hair as punishment for non-compliance.
The court ruled that the directive violated constitutional protections of individual freedoms and was outdated in modern society. The decision comes after a petition was filed in 2020 by 23 public school students claiming that the policy infringed on their rights.
Student activists have long pushed for change, asserting that hairstyle restrictions damage personal dignity and bodily autonomy. Panthin Adulthananusak, a former student activist, welcomed the ruling, saying it validated years of actions to challenge rigid school regulations.
In response to growing calls for reform, Thailand’s education ministry has already taken measures to loosen restrictions in recent years. In 2020, students were allowed to have longer hairstyles, though some limitations remained. By 2023, the ministry officially repealed hair-length restrictions, leaving decisions on hairstyle policies to be negotiated between students, parents, and school authorities.
Despite these changes, some schools continued enforcing the 1975 directive, arguing that short hair promoted discipline and tidiness. Reports of schools banning bangs or dyed hair—and teachers publicly cutting students’ hair as punishment—have sparked a public backlash.
In January, the education ministry reiterated its stance against hairstyle restrictions, highlighting the importance of diversity and fairness in schools. The court’s ruling now reinforces this position, affirming that student hairstyle guidelines must respect personal freedom and dignity.
However, activists like Panthin caution that the ruling may not eliminate restrictive policies, as individual schools still have the authority to set their own rules.
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