No lesser an institution than Human Rights Watch has called on Thailand’s Education Ministry to review its guidelines for student hairstyles.
The Bangkok Post quoted Deputy Secretary of Education Siriporn Kitkuakul as saying that the Ministry is responding to the call by reviewing its guidelines with the goal of protecting the “rights and dignity” of Thai students.
In its complaint, Human Rights Watch singled out what it referred to as “selective treatment” in the Thai school system, specifically calling attention to rules stipulating that only students involved in dance and the arts were allowed to grow their hair to a significant length.
The Ministry has not yet issued any revisions to its guidelines. It is possible that after further review the Ministry will dictate separate changes for nursery, primary and secondary school students.
