Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has made it clear that long hair in SHS will not be tolerated, insisting that schools are places of discipline, not fashion shows.

Speaking during the 75th anniversary of Mawuli Senior High School in the Volta Region on Saturday, October 25, Mr. Iddrisu stated that educational authorities will strictly enforce grooming regulations across all second-cycle institutions.

“We will not tolerate it today, and we will not tolerate it tomorrow. Schools are meant for molding character, not hosting beauty contests,” he emphasized.

His comments come amid a growing national debate about whether senior high schools should permit students—especially females—to keep long or natural hair on campus.

The discussion was reignited after a viral video showed a female first-year student of Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School in Kumasi crying as her hair was being cut at a barbering shop. According to reports, her father later confronted the barber for recording and sharing the video without consent, threatening legal action.

The Education Minister drew parallels with the 2021 Achimota School controversy, when some students’ refusal to trim their rasta hair sparked widespread debate over cultural identity and school discipline.

At the Mawuli anniversary event, attended by the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr. Iddrisu urged headmasters to maintain strict discipline in their institutions.

“If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes, and the next day it will be how students dress,” he warned. “Headmasters and GES are empowered to ensure that students adhere to the code of conduct on your campuses.”

Mr. Iddrisu reiterated that the school environment is not designed for beauty competitions and must remain focused on education, discipline, and character development.