Landmark ruling restores students’ freedom of expression, ending a military-era restriction
Bangkok [Thailand], March 9 – In a historic verdict, Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court has abolished a controversial Education Ministry regulation that dictated student hairstyles for over five decades. The ruling, made final on Wednesday, declares the 1975 regulation unconstitutional, citing its violation of individual freedoms and its irrelevance in modern society, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
The court ordered the immediate annulment of the rule, which was rooted in a 1972 military junta directive. It mandated that male students maintain short hair and remain clean-shaven, while female students were restricted from growing their hair below their ears or wearing makeup. The regulation was originally intended to instill discipline, but over the years, it became a source of contention among students, parents, and educators.
“The order of the military regime and the ministry regulation in dispute cannot be considered as being for the utmost benefit of the students,” the court ruled, marking a definitive end to the debate.
The decision is seen as a major victory for 23 students who first challenged the rule in 2020, arguing that it infringed on personal freedoms and contradicted the Child Protection Act of 2003. The Education Ministry had already started relaxing uniform and hairstyle policies in 2024, but this ruling ensures that such decisions will now be left to individual schools.
With the court’s ruling, schools will have the autonomy to either allow students full freedom over their hairstyles or let parents and school committees decide on regulations. The verdict signals a progressive shift in Thailand’s education system, reinforcing the importance of individual expression and constitutional rights.
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Thailand, Supreme Administrative Court, Education Ministry, Student Rights, Constitutional Rights, Freedom of Expression, School Discipline, Hairstyle Regulation, Bangkok Post, Military Junta