Thai Students Win Freedom to Choose Hairstyles

A significant change has come to Thai schools as the Supreme Administrative Court has overturned a long-standing rule about student hairstyles. For decades, schools in Thailand followed a directive that required boys to have short hair and girls to have ear-length bobs. This rule, dating back to 1975, was seen by many as outdated and restrictive.

The court's decision came after 23 public school students filed a petition in 2020. They argued that the old directive violated their personal freedoms and was not in line with modern society. The court agreed, stating that the rule went against individual freedoms protected by the constitution.

This ruling marks a victory for student activists who have been campaigning for more freedom in personal expression. While some schools had already begun to relax these rules, others still enforced strict hairstyle regulations. The new decision allows students to choose their hairstyles freely, reflecting a shift towards recognizing students' rights to make decisions about their own appearance.