The problem of bullying at school is ‘complex’ to tackle, both victims and perpetrators need help: Chan Chun Sing – Mothership.SG

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“Any intervention cannot be one-size-fits-all,” said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing.

October 14, 2024, 6:07 PM

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing faced a slew of questions in Parliament on October 14 about school bullying.

This included questions about a possible rising trend of such cases and how the government is dealing with this.

This followed a trail of recent bullying reports linked to local schools such as ITE College Central, Bukit View Secondary School, Meridian Secondary School and Qihua Primary School.

Problems with bullying at school have become “more complex,” Chan reiterated during his speech and answers to additional questions.

This means that the measures taken cannot be simple.

Support for both victims and perpetrators

Chan said that when tackling bullying at school, schools will “consider the seriousness of the incident and take into account the profile and needs of the students involved”.

While perpetrators may face detention, suspension and even legal consequences after the police file a report, caning remains a ‘last resort’ for boys involved in cases of ‘serious bullying’.

Chan emphasized the importance of a rehabilitation approach.

Both victims and perpetrators will receive emotional support from teachers, school counselors and the community to help repair fraught relationships.

“The goal of these educational and restorative efforts is to help students learn from their mistakes. These efforts are undertaken to turn the bully around, rather than simply expel or suspend them.”

He noted that some parents had suggested “doxing” perpetrators, but said such “social vigilantism” could “counterproductive and complicate” efforts to help both the victim and the perpetrator.

Doxing leaves a digital footprint, Chan noted.

“Imagine a young child doing something wrong, and it’s recorded forever. That child could be our child.”

Of course, he went on to say, “No one is above the law,” and rehabilitation measures and appropriate punishments must be implemented.

Parents to participate

Chan emphasized the role of parents in guiding their children through adolescence.

When victims of bullying turn to their parents for help, parents are encouraged to “stay calm” and strengthen their “prosocial and coping skills.”

As the nature of bullying is reshaped by complex relationships and social media, Chan added that parents must work closely with schools and communities to combat the problem.

The average number of bullying incidents has ‘remained stable’

Chan stated that the average number of bullying incidents has remained “stable” over the past five years.

For every 1,000 students, an average of two incidents occurred annually in primary schools and six incidents in secondary schools for any form of bullying, both inside and outside schools.

He shared the steps taken by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to prepare students and teachers to deal with bullying threats.

Such measures include teaching students to treat others with respect both online and offline, training teachers to create a ‘positive classroom culture’ and recognizing students in need.

Chan also warned against spreading bullying videos, which could further “ostracize” perpetrators and make it harder for them to “improve their behavior.”

What does ‘bullying’ mean?

Chan noted that students are now more willing to come forward and expose cases of bullying.

However, he noted that there are students who have become “more sensitive” to such issues.

“What they perceive as bullying may or may not correspond to what other people perceive as bullying,” he said.

“What people consider bullying also varies in different people’s interpretations, so we have to be careful.”

Still, he encouraged students to speak up about instances where they felt disrespected or uncomfortable.

Schools will then investigate before taking a “tiered approach based on the severity of the incident”, which can range from cases arising from “careless comments and misunderstandings” to “persistent, deliberate bullying”.

Intervention cannot be one-size-fits-all

When we said we needed to intervene, Chan went on to say, “Every intervention cannot be one-size-fits-all.”

He said schools must take into account the circumstances and background of both the victim and perpetrators when imposing punishments.

Chan added that the rehabilitation of both the victim and perpetrators often takes time and requires teamwork from schools, parents and community partners.

“True justice must combine punishment with rehabilitation.”

Top images via Telegram and Facebook