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Singapore will allow caning as a disciplinary measure for school bullies, but only as a last resort and under strict safeguards, Education Minister Desmond Lee told parliament on Tuesday.
The debate followed new guidelines unveiled last month by the education ministry to address serious student misconduct, including bullying. Under the guidelines, offenders could face between one and three strokes of the cane.
“Last Resort” with Strict Protocols
“Our schools use caning as a disciplinary measure if all the other measures are inadequate, given the gravity of the misconduct,” Lee said.
He outlined several safeguards:
- Caning must be approved by the principal
- It can only be administered by authorized teachers
- Schools consider the student’s maturity and whether caning will help them learn from the mistake
- The school will monitor the student’s wellbeing and progress afterward, including providing counselling
Only for Male Students
Lee noted that under Singapore’s Criminal Procedure Code, “women shall not be punished with caning,” meaning the punishment is only available for male students.
A Colonial Legacy
Caning in Singapore is a legacy of British colonial rule, though Britain has long abolished corporal punishment. Singapore authorities have consistently defended the practice as a deterrent to crime and serious misconduct, despite regular criticism from human rights groups.
WHO: “No Benefits, Multiple Risks”
The policy comes against the backdrop of a World Health Organisation (WHO) report last year that found “there is now overwhelming scientific evidence that corporal punishment of children carries multiple risks of harm and has no benefits.”
Human rights organizations have regularly criticized Singapore’s use of corporal punishment, which remains part of both the school system and criminal justice framework.
Context
The guidelines were introduced as Singapore, like many countries, grapples with how to address bullying in schools. The government has framed the measures as part of a broader disciplinary framework that includes counselling and other interventions, with caning reserved for the most serious cases after other measures have failed.
