Caning for Singapore school bullies? Only as last resort, education minister says
Por qué importa
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is responding to parliamentary questions regarding its updated efforts to combat bullying. Minister Lee acknowledged research linking corporal punishment, especially in unregulated environments, to negative outcomes.
Responding to more than 20 parliamentary questions on the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) updated efforts to tackle bullying, Lee acknowledged that studies linked poorly administered and frequent corporal punishment – particularly in unregulated settings such as the home – with negative outcomes.
“We recognise this, and I want to emphasise that the context in our schools is quite different,” he said.
Schools follow strict protocols when caning is considered: for example, it must be approved by the principal and administered only by authorised teachers. They also take into account the student’s maturity and whether the measure would help him learn from his mistake.
“If it is used, it is never administered in isolation but always as part of a suite of restorative and disciplinary measures,” Lee said.
Preguntas abiertas
- What are the specific updated efforts to tackle bullying?
- What are the MOE's updated protocols for administering corporal punishment?
- What is the current prevalence of corporal punishment in Singaporean schools?
- What are the specific 'restorative and disciplinary measures' used alongside caning?
