Singapore’s education minister, Desmond Lee, has confirmed that teachers in the country are permitted to use caning as a disciplinary measure for students, including those as young as nine, as part of a strengthened anti-bullying framework.
Speaking during an interview, Lee said caning would only be used in serious cases where other disciplinary methods have failed.
He explained that the punishment is tightly regulated and cannot be administered arbitrarily. According to him, approval must come from school principals, and only authorised teachers are allowed to carry it out under strict safety guidelines.
“Schools will consider factors such as the maturity of the student and whether caning will help the student understand the seriousness of their actions,” Lee said, noting that the decision is left to school discretion after assessing each case.
The updated approach is part of new anti-bullying measures set to be introduced across Singaporean schools from 2027. Authorities say the goal is to reinforce discipline and discourage repeated misconduct.
Under the policy, caning is reserved strictly as a last resort and is only applied to male students for serious offences. The Ministry of Education says the measure is intended to set clear boundaries while encouraging behavioural correction.
Officials argue that firm consequences can help deter bullying and improve student behaviour, pointing to research they say supports the use of structured discipline in schools.
However, corporal punishment remains controversial globally.
The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned against its use, saying evidence shows it can have long-term negative effects on children’s mental and physical health, with no proven benefits for development or behaviour.
Singapore, a wealthy Southeast Asian city-state known for its strict legal system and emphasis on order, continues to maintain some of the world’s toughest disciplinary practices, even as many countries have moved away from corporal punishment in schools.
