Former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has called for a shift in how schools approach the issue of students keeping their hair, stressing that policies on hair length should be rooted in hygiene and safety rather than discipline.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Dr. Adutwum explained that while many schools in Ghana require students to cut their hair, the motivation behind such directives must be rational and considerate of students’ well-being.
“We sometimes think we are the adults and they are the children, so we force certain decisions on them without proper engagement,” he said. “We see it as discipline, but in reality, the hair issue is about hygiene and safety.”
The Bosomtwe MP cited the Accra High Court’s decision in the case of Achimota School and Tyrone Marhguy, noting that the court’s position reflected the importance of fairness and understanding in school policies.
According to him, the rule on haircuts was historically introduced to help maintain cleanliness and ensure students devoted time to their studies, not as a form of punishment.
“When schools make rules that students must cut their hair, it’s not about discipline. It’s because not everyone has the luxury to keep their hair neat all the time,” he said.
Dr. Adutwum drew comparisons with schools abroad, where students are allowed to keep long hair but must follow safety measures, especially during physical activities.
“In my schools abroad, people come with long hair, but we have put measures in place to avoid injury during P.E. So we tell parents to either cut the length of the hair or tie it in a ponytail, and they always understand,” he shared.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful urged Ghanaian schools to adopt a similar approach that emphasises communication and understanding between teachers, parents, and students.
“We can make the children understand the issues because keeping long or short hair is not about discipline but hygiene and safety,” he said.
Dr. Adutwum also advised that exceptions be made for students whose parents cite religious or cultural reasons for not cutting their hair.
“If parents give valid reasons, their child’s hair cannot be cut; any court will rule in their favour. So schools must handle these cases with flexibility,” he explained.
He concluded that the focus should be on rational policy grounded in health and safety rather than enforcing uniform behavior for its own sake.
“We must let the children understand it’s for their own good, not just a disciplinary measure,” Dr. Adutwum added.
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