No hairstyles or long hair will be tolerated in schools – Education Minister

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) and heads of second-cycle institutions not to tolerate hairstyles and long hair by students in their schools

Speaking at the 75th Anniversary celebrations of Mawuli School, he addressed debates on social media about students’ hairstyles and grooming standards, saying schools exist to mould character, not to host beauty contests.

“There is an ongoing debate on social media about haircuts and size and lengths of hair in Secondary Schools. We’ll not tolerate today, we’ll not tolerate it tomorrow, in so long as we are moulding character. If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes and the next day it will be the way they dress.

Therefore as part of our disciplinary measures, Headmasters and GES you’re accordingly empowered to take full control of how students behave on your campuses. So anybody who thinks that your child will walk into any institution of learning, as if that Child was to attend a beauty contest, the school environment is not for that purpose and not cut for that purpose and will not tolerate that as an institution,” he said.

The Minister, however, emphasized that teachers must exercise fairness and professionalism when enforcing school rules. He also warned that any teacher found abusing students would face sanctions.

“We will not tolerate indiscipline in our schools, including cases where teachers abuse learners. Any teacher found taking advantage of a student will face strict sanctions,” he added.

In other news, former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, has criticized the Education Minister’s directive banning long hair and elaborate hairstyles in schools.

In a social media post, Mubarak questioned the logic behind the directive, saying grooming restrictions have little to do with addressing corruption or poor values among Ghana’s youth.

“How does keeping kids’ hair short stop them from growing to be double-salary takers or corrupt politicians?” he asked.

“Schools should be focusing on civics, patriotism, and community service — that’s a more effective way to shape students’ values and behaviours.”

“Are we all not sickened by the nauseating corruption, lack of accountability and the complete breakdown of patriotism?” he said.

He called on the Ministry of Education to prioritise what he described as “substantive reforms” — including promoting science and mathematics through competitions and awards, improving teacher welfare, ensuring proper supervision in rural schools, and enhancing civics education.

“That’s what moulds kids into responsible and successful adults — substance over perfunctory gestures in our educational system,” Mubarak said.