The Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports revealed this at Bowen Secondary School yesterday at the launch of an activity room for students.

'I can also tell you I have been involved in fights in school. Except that because I was the thinnest, I was always on the losing end,' said the Anglo-Chinese School old boy.

The activity room or cabin is a collaboration between the school and Singapore Children's Society (SCS) to provide opportunities for healthier student interactions.

Results of a study by the SCS last year found that one in four secondary school students was a victim of school bullying. For primary school pupils, the ratio was one in five.

In his speech, Dr Balakrishnan urged students to stay in school 'no matter how bad the situation is'.

'In Singapore's context, without education, there is almost no hope of achieving success in life,' he said.

He added that friendships made in school were just as important.

This conviction is shared by the SCS, whose Project Cabin sees it working with secondary schools to set up a space furnished with games and computers.

The aim is to draw students away from popular after-school hangouts like malls and amusement arcades where they may get involved with trouble-makers and pick up bad habits.

Bowen Secondary's cabin is the 18th and newest.

Its principal Frederick Yeo noted that having a place for students to interact while in their natural element promotes mutual respect and friendships, which can reduce the number of bullying cases.

Ms Tan Bee Joo, deputy director of the SCS Student Service Hub, said about 20 students drop in each day.