After denying news that it is holding a Miss Teen contest, the education ministry has now banned schools from organizing or co-organizing any beauty contest for their students.

The Ministry of Education and Training directed in a December 14 ruling that universities, institutes, junior colleges, and vocational schools are not allowed to be involved in the organization of any beauty pageant.

The ministry announced the ban following news that the ministry itself, in cooperation with state-owned TV channel VTC, is organizing a “Miss Teen” contest for high school students.

The ministry flatly denied its involvement, saying it “has never held any beauty contest in general and the Miss Teen pageant in particular.”