El Salvador's students now face daily checks for short haircuts and neat uniforms — as well as weekly "Civic Monday" drills. The inspections were mandated by the country’s new minister of education, a military captain.

Public schools across El Salvador have started enforcing strict new discipline rules that mandate military-style haircuts, perfect uniforms, and respectful greetings for teachers.

Some teachers' unions have lamented the measures as marking the militarization of education, but the government of President Nayib Bukele defends them as essential to restoring order in classrooms.

Students in El Salvador's public schools must adhere to strict disciplinary rules starting this week based on an order from new Education Minister Karla Trigueros, a high-ranking military officer.

The minister's memorandum states that, beginning August 20, principals "must greet students daily" at the entrance gates of the country's more than 5,100 public schools.

It also indicates that principals must ensure that students attend classes in "clean and tidy uniforms," ​​with "appropriate haircuts," and that they enter "in an orderly manner with respectful greetings." For boys, the rules require hair to be closely cropped.

"Failure to comply with these provisions by principals will be considered a serious breach of administrative responsibility," the minister warned.

Within the framework of strengthening discipline, order, and the personal presentation of the student community," the new minister told school principals in a memorandum published on the social network X, "strict compliance" must be given to disciplinary rules.

Meanwhile, students are required to approach the entrance in an orderly fashion, greet their teachers respectfully, and maintain a posture of discipline as they enter.

A later memorandum posted by Trigueros required all schools in El Salvador to stage weekly "Civic Mondays" throughout the school year to strengthen national identity, civic values, and discipline. The half-hour events were to include the entrance and removal of the national flag, singing of the anthem, a prayer to the flag, and a student presentation on a historical figure or event.

See also:

https://www.dw.com/en/el-salvador-schools-enforce-military-style-haircut-checks/a-73740667

Posted by Naurgul

6 comments

  2. This should be a reminder what any authoritarian regime runs the risks of. A single point of power might be the best in terms of efficiency, but it also means it can be abused.

    We’ll see how it progresses.

  3. I feel like, in concept, this really isn’t any different to the strict uniform standards a lot of countries have. Both suck but I don’t see the automatic connection to authoritarianism.

  4. I’ve had this my whole life (I’m from Thailand). All male students had to sport the variation of crew cut, while female students must keep their hair shorter than their ear lobes.

    Then they abolished the rules 10 years ago.

  5. One of the best decisions to be made, a crime filled country can’t be changed with imprisonment of gangs alone. Cultural reforms must be made. This is highly beneficial to change the mindset and build discipline in kids. Many who argue about “authoritarianism” don’t understand this crucial concept.

  6. This is absolutely the militarization of education. It eliminates all individuality. You don’t want your haircut? Too bad. The lack of individuality or free expression or just letting kids be kids is authoritarianism, totalitarianism. Stop forcing people to be numbers you f****** stupid ass government officials.

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