Politics · Other · 59 mins ago
Peru’s new public school rules restrict hairstyles, makeup and cellphone use
President Keiko Fujimori announced new discipline rules for Peru’s public schools to address violence and harassment in classrooms.
Boys will have to keep their hair short, while girls cannot dye their hair or wear makeup, and their skirts must fall below the knee.
Cellphones will be banned during class unless teachers allow them, and the rules also bring back conduct grades and allow schools to expel students for serious offences.
The Education Ministry recorded 11,805 cases of school violence between January and August, and a sexual assault case involving students on a school bus renewed debate about safety in schools.
Former deputy education minister Ana Andrade Pacora said the appearance rules are mistaken and could reinforce sexist ideas rather than teach students to respect one another.
The appearance rules apply only to public schools, which serve more than six million students; private schools can set their own rules.
Peru’s President Keiko Fujimori announced new discipline rules for public schools, restricting hairstyles, makeup, skirt length and cellphone use.
The rules require boys to have short hair and ban dyed hair, makeup and painted nails; girls’ skirts must fall below the knee.
Cellphones will be prohibited during class unless a teacher authorizes them, and schools may expel students for serious offences.
The government says the measures aim to combat violence and harassment, while a former education official called them misguided and sexist.
The rules apply to public schools, which serve more than six million students; private schools can set their own rules.
- Who
- Peru’s President Keiko Fujimori announced the rules; they apply to students in public schools.
- What
- New rules restrict hairstyles, makeup, skirt length and cellphone use. They also restore expulsions for serious offences and conduct grades.
- When
- Fujimori announced them on Monday. The article was published on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- Public schools in Peru.
- Why
- The government says the rules are intended to combat violence and harassment in classrooms and teach responsibility.
Peruvian government
Critics of the rules
Purpose
Peruvian government
The government says the measures will combat violence and harassment and teach responsibility.
Critics of the rules
Former deputy education minister Ana Andrade Pacora says the measures will not work and confuse appearance with respect for classmates.
Personal appearance
Peruvian government
The government sets rules on hair, makeup, nails and skirt length in public schools.
Critics of the rules
Andrade says the restrictions on girls’ clothing are sexist and place responsibility on girls rather than addressing men’s harassment.
Peru’s Ministry of Education recorded 11,805 cases of school violence.
A 16-year-old reported being sexually assaulted by classmates on a school bus, and courts ordered the preventive detention of six students from a Navy-run school.
Fujimori announced new school discipline regulations at a ceremony in Chaclacayo, east of Lima.
- Students affected
- More than six million in public education
- Hair rules
- Boys must have short hair; dyed hair is banned
- Appearance rules
- Makeup and painted nails are banned; girls’ skirts must fall below the knee
- Cellphone use
- Banned during class unless authorized by a teacher
- School violence
- 11,805 cases recorded from January through August 2026
- Private schools
- May keep their own rules
What people are saying
Order must return not only to the streets. It must also come back to our schools, to our classrooms
I know it can be quite strict, but believe me this will be important throughout life
I think these are absolutely mistaken measures and they will set our society back more than three decades
Boys must have short hair and girls’ skirts must fall below the knee.
Sources
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