Singapore introduces caning for boys who bully others at school
TL;DR
Singapore has introduced caning for male school students who bully others, including cyberbullying, as a last resort. Students may face up to three strokes of the cane under strict protocols.
Key points
- Singapore introduces caning for male students who bully
- Caning is a last resort after other measures
- Students can receive up to three strokes of the cane
- Caning must be approved by the principal
- International groups oppose corporal punishment
Mentioned in this story
Male school students who bully others, including through cyberbullying, will face caning as a “last resort” under new guidelines introduced in Singapore.
Male students can face up to three strokes of the cane under the new rules, which were discussed in parliament on Tuesday.
International groups such as Unicef, the UN’s agency for children, oppose the use of corporal punishment for children, saying it harms their physical and mental health, and increases behavioural problems over time.
The education minister, Desmond Lee, told lawmakers that caning would only be applied “if all the other measures are inadequate, given the gravity of the misconduct”.
“They follow strict protocols to ensure safety for the student. For instance, caning must be approved by the principal and administered only by authorised teachers,” he said.
“Schools will consider factors such as the maturity of the student and if caning will help the student learn from his mistake and understand the gravity of what he has done.”
The measures follow a year-long review that focused on bullying, and come after several high-profile school bullying incidents drew public attention last year.
Caning will only be used as a punishment for male students in upper primary levels (age 9-12 years) and above, said Lee, who pointed to the country’s criminal procedure code, which prohibits the caning of women.
After the caning is imposed, the school would “monitor the student’s wellbeing and progress”, including providing counselling, Lee said.
Female students, he said, would receive punishments “such as detention and/or suspension, adjustment of their conduct grade and other school-based consequences”.
Judicial caning, first introduced by British colonialists in the 19th century, continues to be used in Singapore for male offenders under 50. This includes crimes such as robbery, scamming or overstaying a visa by 90 days.
A report released by the World Health Organization last year said that corporal punishment remained “alarmingly widespread” globally, adding that it caused significant harm to children’s health and development.
Globally, an estimated 1.2 billion children aged 0-18 years are subjected to corporal punishment at home each year, according to WHO.
Q&A
What are the new guidelines for bullying in Singapore schools?
The new guidelines allow for caning male students who bully others, including through cyberbullying, as a last resort after other measures have failed.
How many strokes of the cane can students receive for bullying in Singapore?
Male students can face up to three strokes of the cane under the new bullying guidelines in Singapore.
What do international organizations say about corporal punishment for children?
International groups like Unicef oppose corporal punishment, arguing it harms children's physical and mental health and can lead to increased behavioral problems.
