Maltese schoolchildren will be allowed to wear studs… as long as they wear a single stud in both ears in a uniform manner.

The new rule was announced in a circular sent to the heads of state schools regarding the wearing of earrings and similar piercing accessories.

In the circular, the Director General for Educational Services says this new rule comes after the authorities took into account feedback from parents who decried a blanket ban on piercings amongst Maltese students.

“Since we believe that this situation is related to health an safety circumstances and in fact a number of sports activities around the world do not allow athletes to wear earrings, it is being suggested that learners may wear a pair of small studs, one on each ear, as long as wearing them will not cause any health and safety issues to the learners or persons around them,” the Director-General for Educational Studies said in their circular.

The new rule comes after a week of back and forths between parents, educators, and the Minister of Education.

As the school season restarted this year, a mother had pointed out that Malta’s schools do not allow any piercings to be worn…. yet, for some reason, girls were allowed to flaunt the rule while boys weren’t.

After she pointed out the failure to follow the Maltese rules, the Education Ministry quickly banned all piercings to come in line with their own rules. However, this led to a backlash from parents who wanted their children to wear earrings to school.