In a significant move to foster freedom and respect for children’s rights, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has issued instructions to 437 schools, allowing students to wear casual clothes once a week.
The BMA has also called for schools to relax regulations pertaining to students’ hairstyles and underscored the importance of respecting individual styles and preferences.
Acting BMA City Clerk, Wanthanee Watana, issued two orders on June 23, which were subsequently relayed to all district offices for dissemination to BMA schools under their jurisdiction. The first order stipulates that students in all BMA schools should be granted one non-uniform day per week, with schools given flexibility to determine a suitable day in consultation with students and parents. Students who find it challenging to wear casual clothing may opt for their physical education or scout/guide uniforms. The order also emphasizes that schools must ensure the new regulations do not infringe upon students’ gender, faith, diversity, or impede their rights and liberties.
The BMA’s directives also address the freedom of hairstyles. The second order instructs schools to reach an agreement with students on hairstyles rather than enforcing uniformity. It explicitly prohibits actions that violate students’ rights, liberty, or cause mental distress, such as forcibly cutting their hair or subjecting them to public embarrassment.
Bangkok Christian College (BCC) has already implemented “casual Tuesdays” since February, providing students with an opportunity to express themselves. However, this policy has faced resistance from conservative circles.
The BMA stated that these measures demonstrate its commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful environment in schools, addressing concerns raised by student activists, and emphasizing the importance of individual rights and freedom of expression.
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