Singapore's government has issued new guidelines permitting corporal punishment for students involved in school violence, introducing caning as a disciplinary measure for repeated and serious misconduct.
According to AFP on Wednesday, Singapore Education Minister Desmond Lee told parliament that "our schools administer caning as a disciplinary measure when a student's misconduct is severe and all other measures have proven ineffective."
Lee added that "strict procedures will be followed to ensure student safety." Corporal punishment must receive prior approval from the school principal and may only be carried out by designated teachers.
Authorities emphasized that the measure is aimed at "behavioral correction" rather than mere punishment. Following caning, counseling and continued monitoring will be provided in parallel to support the student's rehabilitation and reintegration, officials explained.
Up to Three Strokes: Harsher Penalties for Repeated and Serious Offenses
Under the new guidelines, serious misconduct such as bullying, theft, smoking, and truancy may result in one stroke of the cane along with suspension or in-school service, even on the first offense.
For repeated offenses, corporal punishment may increase to a maximum of two strokes, with longer suspension periods. Students caught three or more times may face up to three strokes and suspension of up to 14 days.
Very serious misconduct, including assault, severe bullying, and drug abuse, will be met with high-level discipline from the first offense. In such cases, even first-time offenders may face both corporal punishment and extended suspension simultaneously.
However, caning will apply only to male students in upper elementary grades and above, while female students and those in lower grades are excluded. This reflects the existing legal framework that prohibits caning for women.
"Crime Deterrent" vs. "Human Rights Violation": Controversy Persists
Singapore has long maintained caning as a crime deterrent. Adult males can be sentenced to caning for serious crimes including drug trafficking, robbery, and sexual offenses. The government's position is that "strong punishment has a real effect on crime prevention."
The introduction of corporal punishment in schools has been adopted in the same context. Amid a recent rise in school violence cases, analysts suggest the move reflects a judgment that "clear punishment standards and a strong message" are needed.
However, international views are divided. Human rights organizations, including the United Nations, have defined caning as "a harsh punishment that violates human dignity" and have called for its abolition.
Singapore authorities responded that "caning is used only in limited and controlled circumstances" and is "part of a comprehensive disciplinary system combined with education and counseling."
Meanwhile, netizens who encountered the news expressed opinions such as "Korea urgently needs to adopt this" and "A national system should be established to restore teachers' authority."
