Since Nayib Bukele came to power in 2019 as president of El Salvador, his measures have not gone unnoticed. The latest of his measures has drawn significant attention, as it has divided the population (and the rest of the world). Some consider it to be a good measure, while some human rights advocates and teachers’ unions express their concerns about the potential impact of such measures.
It involves a new regulation that prohibits students from wearing the well-known mohawk or Edgar haircut. What is the purpose of this new measure? From the Ministry of Education, they assert that it is a necessary measure to restore order in the school system. They believe that for years it has been a recruiting ground for gangs, and that this way discipline and education are imposed.
Nayib Bukele
Born on July 24, 1981, Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez, a native of El Salvador, has been the current president of his country since he succeeded Salvador Sanchez Cerén in office on June 1, 2019. Since the beginning of his term, there have been many measures that have not gone unnoticed and have dominated the headlines of the most relevant newspapers. This was the case in 2020, when he entered the Legislative Assembly accompanied by armed soldiers, aiming to pressure the lawmakers to approve a loan intended for his security plan.
In 2021, he became the first country in the world to introduce and approve Bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador, which was not viewed favorably by the rest of the world. Undoubtedly, another of Bukele’s most controversial measures was the creation of the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT), a mega-prison intended to house thousands of gang members. With his military and security policies, and the promise to eradicate gangs and violence on the streets, he was re-elected in February 2024, winning 80% of the votes, although critics argue that his candidacy was unconstitutional. It was in June 2024 when his second term began, in which he intends to continue fighting against gangs.
Strict new dress code and grooming standards in schools
One of the last measures taken by Bukele’s government has not left anyone indifferent. Both inside and outside the country, critics have spoken out and taken a stand. The measure includes a new and strict dress code and preparation rules in the country’s schools, which prohibits students from having certain hairstyles. Specifically, they refer to cuts like the mohawk and the Edgar cut, which are the most popular among young people inside and outside of El Salvador.
From the Ministry of Education, led by Karla Trigueros, this measure is defended as a response to the urgent need to impose discipline and reduce the influence of gangs on the youth. So far, schools have been considered recruitment fields for gangs, according to the authorities, and that has to come to an end. This is why they believe in the usefulness of students having ‘appropriate’ haircuts, in addition to clean uniforms.
For or against?
The division of opinions has quickly emerged. Although the Government considers that it is not only a step towards the necessary transformation of the education system, but also a measure against crime and gang activities. Some parents have expressed their support for this measure, arguing that they believe discipline is necessary from a young age, stating that it is better to “straighten them out from an early age”.
On the other hand, numerous human rights groups and teachers’ unions have expressed their concern about these types of measures, attributing to them the possible militarization of education and fearing the extent they may reach.
