Caning, suspension among standard disciplinary measures in all schools by 2027 to combat bullying: MOE

SINGAPORE - By 2027, all schools in Singapore must implement standardised disciplinary measures in managing student misconduct, including bullying.

These include up to three days of detention or suspension, or both, for students who commit serious offences for the first time, along with having their conduct grade adjusted. First-time offenders could also get one stroke of the cane, with up to three strokes for subsequent offenders. Only boys in upper primary levels and above will be caned.

Punishments vary between serious and very serious offences, with bullying cases assessed based on factors such as impact, intent and recalcitrance.

Serious offences include bullying, cheating, gambling, vaping and other offences that are a breach of law, while very serious offences include arson, drug abuse, fighting, vaping with etomidate and other illegal or criminal offences that result in grievous hurt.

While schools now have some leeway to decide how incidents are handled and can adapt from guidelines by the Ministry of Education (MOE), this new mandate aims to ensure consistency across schools, Education Minister Desmond Lee said on April 15.

He announced the move as part of nine recommendations to address bullying and hurtful behaviour following his ministry’s year-long review on bullying to strengthen school processes and support educators, among other areas.

MOE’s approach to handling bullying cases has come under scrutiny in recent years, following several bullying incidents which surfaced on social media. In one case, three Primary 3 pupils sent death threats to a classmate’s mother. All three were suspended, and one was caned.

The ministry’s most recent data, released on April 15, showed a slight uptick in bullying rates. Between 2021 and 2025, the incidence rate rose from two to three cases per 1,000 pupils in primary schools, and from six to eight cases per 1,000 students in secondary schools.

Other steps that MOE and schools are taking include improving the accessibility of reporting channels and providing parents with more timely and consistent updates during investigations.

Hurtful behaviours include one-off insensitive comments and physical fights, while bullying involves persistent and intentional hurtful acts, said MOE.

It engaged more than 2,000 people during the review, which started in 2025.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a visit to Teck Ghee Primary School, Mr Lee said: “Having some standardisation gives everyone the assurance that our schools have a common guideline that seeks to ensure greater consistency of practice and more meting out of disciplinary measures.”

Schools will still maintain some autonomy because they know their students best, and have the discretion to take into account specific circumstances, he added.

MOE said schools may add their own consequences and must consider mitigating factors before caning, taking into account a student’s age, maturity, special educational needs or mental well-being.

By 2027, a new online reporting channel will be launched to allow students to report bullying and hurtful behaviour directly, with more details to follow, said Mr Lee. Incident reporting forms will also be provided for students.

For cyberbullying incidents, MOE said these cases can be reported to the relevant social media platforms, and to the Online Safety Commission which will be established in end-June.

Schools will also provide parents with more timely and consistent updates throughout the investigation process, MOE said.

Schools are expected to “touch base” with parents after an incident is reported and explain the investigation timeline. This is to ensure parents are kept in the loop while the school seeks clarity from various parties involved.

To support this shift towards faster communication, MOE said it will provide additional manpower resources to schools to help manage administrative and investigative workloads where needed.

The first phase of the ministry’s bullying review involved a literature review and internal consultations with educators. Part of its focus was on supporting educators, values education and improving partnerships with parents.

The second phase, launched in August 2025, engaged over 2,000 individuals, including parents, students and researchers.

These engagements found that students often appreciate the chance to resolve minor peer conflicts independently. And while students and parents are aware of schools’ anti-bullying stance, they remain concerned about schools’ ability to handle complex cases promptly and fairly, MOE said.

Participants also noted that addressing bullying and promoting kindness involve schools, homes and the wider community, the ministry added.

Other recommendations include providing funding to hire additional manpower for schools that need it, introducing more engaging real-life scenarios in character and citizenship education lessons, equipping educators to better manage student behaviour and engage with parents, and strengthening partnerships with the wider community to encourage kindness.

Overall, these recommendations are meant to lead an educative and restorative process, said Mr Lee.

“We want to incorporate (this process) firmly into the whole cycle of dealing with hurtful behaviour and bullying,” he said, with the aim of not just managing such incidents but minimising the worst incidents and turning daily interactions into teaching moments.

The ministry will monitor the implementation of these measures, working with schools to gather data and track progress across the system, Mr Lee added.

At Rosyth School, pupils have various reporting channels, from speaking to trusted adults to using the school’s online reporting form or dropping a letter at the school’s general office, said its principal Suraj Nair.

The school is exploring hard copy forms for its lower-primary pupils, with templates that make it easier for them to share.

Mr Suraj said the reports of bullying or hurtful behaviour could grow with more reporting avenues, and the school will keep to its “firm but fair” approach to ensure perpetrators are still integrated in the school, while victims are protected.

Less serious offences are handled with restorative conversations, while major breaches face stern consequences such as suspension, caning, or involve the authorities like the police.

“The last thing you want is for the child to be isolated,” he said about the perpetrators. “We must assure them that while they must face consequences, they are still our students and we will take care of them.”

The victim’s safety is the school’s priority when incidents arise, and ensuring this may involve a safety plan that includes adjusting seating arrangements, pairing the victim with a “buddy” during school or someone to walk home with them. This safety plan is communicated to parents.

Mr Suraj emphasised the importance of parents trusting and working closely with the school to allow necessary time for it to establish facts. “We take firm action to send a strong message, but behavioural change is not a quick fix; it takes time and effort.”

Mr Ng Hock Soon, principal of Zhenghua Secondary School, said the school’s measures are aligned with MOE’s guidelines and will be refined where necessary. 

When a bullying incident occurs, parents will be informed and kept updated once investigations begin. The school follows up with students and others involved, Mr Ng said, with the aim of resolving cases as soon as possible. 

Time is also set aside for teachers and students to have one-on-one or small group conversations on navigating challenging situations.

“This has helped to provide a safe environment for students to curb their peers’ hurtful behaviour, if any, and to inform the teachers should the need arise,” he said.

A parent, Mrs Patricia Tan, said she hopes the disciplinary measures and other recommendations will come with a strong push for restorative practices for both the victim and the perpetrator.

“Punishments are a quick deterrence, but I would hope for approaches that support students for the long term,” said the mother of one, who is the managing director of a parent mentoring academy.

It is important to go to the root cause of a bully’s behaviour, said Mrs Tan, 54, and understand what triggers the bully’s actions. 

“Some of them could have been children who experienced a lot of violence themselves,” she said, adding that one approach could be having the perpetrator see a counsellor for 45 minutes every day, to be counselled on issues in their daily life. 

“I find that counselling – for both the victim and the bully – will have a more positive effect in the long run,” Mrs Tan said.