Vietnam: Do lower secondary school students have the right to dye their hair during a school year? Is dyeing hair during a school year prohibited act for lower secondary school students?

Do lower secondary school students in Vietnam have the right to dye their hair during a school year?

According to Article 35 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued by the Ministry of Education and Training attached to Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT, lower secondary school students have the following rights:

(1) The right to equality in enjoying comprehensive education, ensured conditions of time, facilities, hygiene, and safety for studying at school and self-studying at home; provided information about their learning and training; and the right to use equipment and means serving the school's educational, cultural, and sports activities as prescribed.

(2) The right to be respected and protected, treated equally and democratically, the right to complain to the school and educational management levels about decisions regarding themselves; the right to transfer schools for legitimate reasons according to current regulations; the right to early advancement, skipping grades, and studying at an age higher than the regulated age according to Article 33 of the Charter attached to Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT.

(3) The right to participate in activities aimed at developing talents in subjects, sports, arts organized by the school if conditions are met.

(4) The right to receive scholarships or other subsidies as prescribed for students under social policies, students with difficult living conditions, and students with special abilities.

(5) The right to transfer schools if conditions are met; the transfer procedure is implemented according to the regulations of the Minister of Education and Training.

(6) The right to enjoy other rights as prescribed by law.

Thus, according to the above regulations, there is no provision that secondary school students have the right to dye their hair during a school year.

Do lower secondary school students in Vietnam have the right to dye their hair during a school year? Is dyeing hair during a school year prohibited act? (Image from the Internet)

Is dyeing hair during a school year prohibited act for lower secondary school students in Vietnam?

Under Article 37 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued by the Ministry of Education and Training attached to Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDTon prohibited acts for students:

Prohibited acts for students

1. Disrespect the dignity, honor or bodily integrity of teachers, officials and staff of their schools, other people and other students.

2. Act dishonestly in learning, examinations or admission process.

3. Buy, sell or use alcohol, tobacco, drugs, other stimulants, firecrackers or explosives.

4. Use mobile phones and other devices in class for purposes other than learning and without the teacher's permission.

5. Fight or disrupt public or school order or security.

6. Use or exchange cultural products that incite violence or contain indecent materials; use toys or play games that impede their own healthy development.

7. Students shall not commit other prohibited acts provided for by regulations of law.

Firstly, dyeing hair during a school year is not within the scope of prohibited acts as per legal regulations.

However, Article 34 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued by the Ministry of Education and Training attached to Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT stipulates the duties of students as follows:

Duties of students

1. Learn and train according to curricula and education plans of their schools.

2. Respect their parents, officials, teachers and staff of their schools, and those older than them; maintain solidarity and mutual support in learning and training; conform to the charter and rules of their schools; and abide by the law.

3. Take exercises and maintain personal hygiene.

4. Participate in group activities of their schools and classes, Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization and Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; help their families, join physical and social activities and environmental protection activities, and maintain traffic order and safety.

5. Protect school and public property; contribute to fostering, preservation and enhancement of school traditions.

According to the regulations, while the law does not prohibit students from dyeing their hair during a school year, the duties of lower secondary school students include complying with the school's charter and rules.

Thus, if the school's rules prohibit students from dyeing their hair, students must comply with the school's rules in this situation.

Will lower secondary school students in Vietnam be required to dye their hair back?

As stated above, if the school's rules prohibit dyeing hair, students may be reminded and required to dye their hair back according to Article 38 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued by the Ministry of Education and Training attached to Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT on disciplinary actions against lower secondary school students as follows:

Reward and discipline

1. Teachers, secondary schools and education authorities shall reward students with learning and training achievements in the following ways:

a) Commend them in front of the class or the whole school.

b) Grant them titles for students according to regulations.

c) Grant certificates and certificates of merit to students with outstanding achievements or exceptional improvement in learning or emulation movements and competition winners according to regulations and with permission from the Ministry of Education and Training.

d) Other ways to reward.

2. Students making a mistake during the learning and training process shall be corrected or disciplined in the following ways:

a) Give the student a reminder, directly support them in correcting their mistake.

b) Reprimand the student, inform the student’s parent(s) to have the parent(s) cooperate in supporting the student in correcting their mistake.

c) Suspend the student’s study at school for a definite period and take other correcting measures according to regulations from the Ministry of Education and Training.

Thus, according to the regulations, if lower secondary school students have already dyed their hair and the school prohibits dyeing hair, they may be reminded to correct their shortcomings.

If students continue to violate, they will be reprimanded, and parents will be notified.