Education Ministry Updates School Uniform Code, Allows Beards for Older Male Students

The Education Ministry has issued a new school uniform code for government schools, which will come into effect from the 2027 academic year. 

The code, publicised last Tuesday, follows extensive consultations with school management teams.

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Under the new rules, male students from grades nine to 12 are now permitted to keep beards and moustaches, which were previously prohibited. The code requires that any facial hair be kept neatly trimmed.

The uniform code also introduces other changes, including a requirement for skirts to be worn with trousers underneath for students from grade four onwards, regardless of whether they wear the hijab. Students will have the option to wear long or short sleeves.

According to the Ministry, the updates were designed to make uniforms more accessible to parents and to align school colours with the national flag and ministry branding.

The announcement has sparked public debate. Some parents and other citizens have criticised the new guidelines as impractical in the country’s climate and for school activities in which girls participate alongside boys. 

Others have questioned the requirement for skirts for students who do not wear the hijab, arguing they should have the option to wear trousers without a skirt.

Additional concerns have been raised about the focus on uniform colours, with critics suggesting the emphasis may reflect the preferences of rule-makers rather than practicality. Some have also described the rules as unnecessarily restrictive and indicative of broader gender bias within government institutions.