Education Minister Bans Long Hair in Senior High Schools

October 27, 2025 

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has issued a firm directive banning long hair and inappropriate dressing in senior high schools nationwide, declaring the government will maintain strict disciplinary standards to build student character.

Speaking at Mawuli Senior High School's 75th Anniversary celebration in Ho on Saturday, the Minister empowered school heads and the Ghana Education Service to enforce rigorous behavior standards on campus.

Zero Tolerance Policy

"There is an ongoing debate in social media about haircuts—size and length of hairs in secondary schools; we will not tolerate it today, we will not tolerate it tomorrow so long as we are moulding character," Minister Iddrisu stated emphatically.

The directive comes amid heated public discourse over whether female students should be permitted to maintain long hair in secondary institutions.

Slippery Slope Argument

The Minister warned against relaxing dress code standards, suggesting such concessions could trigger broader disciplinary breakdowns.

"If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes, and the next day, it will be the way they dress," he explained, stressing that character formation requires consistent enforcement of rules.

He instructed headmasters and GES officials to "take full control of how students behave" as part of comprehensive disciplinary measures.

Crackdown on Teacher Misconduct

Beyond student discipline, Minister Iddrisu addressed growing concerns about inappropriate teacher-student relationships, promising severe consequences for offenders.

"There is a lot of growing indiscipline in our schools, some with even teachers abusing learners; we will not accept that. We will apply heavy sanctions to any teacher who wants to take advantage of a learner," he declared.

Infrastructure Investment

Representing Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang at the anniversary ceremony, the Minister praised Mawuli School's legacy of producing national leaders and affirmed government commitment to supporting educational infrastructure.

He ceremonially launched construction of a new dormitory facility accommodating both male and female students, demonstrating the government's pledge to provide resources for institutions shaping young Ghanaians' "head, hearts, and hands."

The hair policy announcement is expected to generate continued debate among parents, students, and education stakeholders about the balance between discipline and personal expression in Ghanaian schools.