Eduwatch Backs Legal Action Against Unfair School Hairstyle Rules, Urges Balance of Discipline and Rights
Kofi Asare, Executive Director of Africa Education Watch (Eduwatch), has called on parents and students to seek legal redress against unfair hairstyle policies in Ghanaian schools, following Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu’s directive to enforce strict grooming standards.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom with Charles Owusu Kumi, Asare emphasized that while the minister’s push for uniformity and discipline is valid, it must not trample on students’ rights to cultural or religious expression, citing the landmark 2021 case of Tyrone Iras Marhguy as a legal precedent.
Iddrisu, addressing the 75th anniversary of Mawuli Senior High School, instructed the Ghana Education Service (GES) and school heads to prioritize student conduct, including hairstyle regulations, to foster discipline over “beauty contests.”
The directive, sparked by heated social media debates, has reignited tensions over restrictive policies, particularly affecting students with dreadlocks or culturally significant hairstyles. Asare countered, “It’s not always about indiscipline or discipline. I align with the law, and I encourage anyone who feels unfairly treated to engage the law. Society grows, and so should the law grow.”
Referencing Marhguy’s case, Asare noted that the Achimota School student, denied admission in 2021 over his dreadlocks, won a High Court ruling affirming his right to express his Rastafarian beliefs through his hairstyle, setting a legal benchmark.
“The court simply said, yes, schools may set their rules for regulating dress codes, including hairstyles. But in setting those rules, they shouldn’t be inconsistent with their right to religion,” he explained, urging fairness and inclusivity in enforcement.
The ruling, impacting over 500 students denied entry annually for hairstyles, per Eduwatch data, shifted policy perceptions, though 30% of SHSs still enforce strict cuts, risking further lawsuits.
