“We’ll not tolerate it today or tomorrow” – Education Minister warns over student hairstyles

Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) and heads of second-cycle institutions to enforce strict grooming and discipline standards in schools, warning that long hair and elaborate hairstyles will not be tolerated. Speaking at the 75th Anniversary celebration of Mawuli School in the Volta Region, Iddrisu said schools are institutions meant to “mould character, not host beauty contests.” His comments followed public debates on social media over student hairstyles and school discipline. “There is an ongoing debate on social media about haircuts and the length of hair in secondary schools. We will not tolerate it today, we will not tolerate it tomorrow,” Iddrisu said. “If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes, and the next day, the way they dress. The school environment is not for beauty contests and will not tolerate that as an institution.” The minister said headmasters and the GES have full authority to regulate student appearance and behaviour on campus. He, however, urged teachers to apply rules with fairness and professionalism. “We will not tolerate indiscipline in our schools, including cases where teachers abuse learners,” he cautioned. “Any teacher found taking advantage of a student will face strict sanctions.” Iddrisu, who recently took office as Education Minister, has made school discipline and administrative accountability a top priority, pledging reforms to improve student conduct and strengthen leadership in Ghana’s education system. Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra). Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale). Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn. X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073 Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3 LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5 Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3. YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra. Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652. #AsaaseRadio #TheVoiceofOurLand