Chong: 1976 circular on schoolboy hairstyles still stands

SCHOOLTEACHERS still have the authority to cut the hair of students who do not abide by the guidelines issued by the Education Ministry, says Datuk Chong Sin Woon.

The Deputy Education Minister said a circular on the matter, issued on Jan 7, 1976, was still effective.

“The images shown in the circular are considered the ideal cleancut image for male students.

“However, it only states that the hair length for a male student should not exceed the earlobe or 6in (12cm) beyond the forehead.

“It makes no mention about how short the student’s hair can actually be,” he said in replying to a question by Darell Leiking (Warisan-Penam­pang) in Parliament yesterday.

Chong said as such, in some schools, particularly “established” ones, the tradition of the 3-2-1 haircut was still being practised and the school had the authority to determine the hairdo of the students.

“The 3-2-1 haircut policy can also be enforced with the support from Parent-Teacher Associations,” he added.

The 3-2-1 haircut is a reference to close-cropped haircuts which school administrations follow when trimming the long hair of male students.

Leiking had brought up the issue, saying some schools did not abide by the circular, and there were parents who disagreed with the policy as students ended up looking like “prison inmates”.

In elaborating, Chong said although some parents might want their children to sport fashionable hairstyles, “rules are rules”.

“They can keep their trendy hairstyles after school, not during,” he said.