SINGAPORE – There is room for improvement in the way bullying in schools is handled, particularly in cases where schools may delay communication with parents because they need time to establish the facts, said Minister for Education Desmond Lee on Aug 27.
This could unintentionally make parents and children feel anxious, he said in his first remarks to the media about the bullying issue. Any form of hurtful behaviour is wrong and unacceptable, he added, and parents and schools need to work together closely to build trust.
This need for clearer and more timely communication with parents was among the findings from consultations with teachers, as part of
an MOE review
which began in 2025
to improve processes to address bullying and hurtful behaviour in schools.
Speaking to media before a dialogue held at MOE headquarters in Buona Vista, Mr Lee identified four areas MOE will be delving into: strengthening school culture and processes, focusing more on values education for students, supporting educators, and improving schools’ partnerships with parents.
For instance, the ministry will strengthen school policies on bullying, which includes looking at its framework for discipline, rehabilitation and restorative practice. Current reporting channels for students who experience bullying will also be made more accessible to them.
Consultations with parents, teachers and professionals will continue till the end of 2025, and MOE will release its key recommendations and follow up actions by the first half of 2026.
The closed-door session on Aug 27, which marked the start of the review’s second phase, was attended by 20 participants, including parents, teachers and others from the community.
Mr Lee’s remarks follow a recent case of
bullying in Sengkang Green Primary School
, where a Primary 3 pupil bullied a female classmate and sent death threats to the girl’s mother, who had reported the three boys to the school for bullying her daughter.
Mr Lee also cited a separate viral video of a student
pointing a knife at another student
outside of school, as well as another fighting incident at Montfort Secondary School
involving three Secondary 1 students
.
He said these incidents “have understandably heightened all our anxieties about the safety and well-being of our children in and out of school”.
He added: “Our children today also navigate social situations and relationships that are getting more complex. Beyond the physical setting, many of their interactions now also happen online – on WhatsApp, social media, Discord and more – platforms that did not exist when we were children ourselves.”
Concerns about bullying have surfaced from time to time when incidents come to light online. Parents and members of the public have called for more transparency in the way schools handle bullying, including in the disciplinary actions taken.
Education Minister Desmond Lee (second from left) at a dialogue with parents, teachers and others from the community on Aug 27.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Mr Lee said when issues arise, educators help students reflect, mete out disciplinary measures, and may have to report to the police more serious cases involving physical hurt.
He emphasised that children and young people have the capacity to learn and grow, given the right guidance.
Noting that bullying is not a simple issue, Mr Lee said schools have to navigate grey areas when children’s or parents’ accounts differ, and people have different views on what the appropriate response should be.
But ultimately, all parties want schools to be safe spaces for children, he said. “This work is never finished, and there will always be room to improve.”
Mr Lee said that Character and Citizenship Education lessons will include more real-life scenarios and contemporary examples to help students understand the impact of their actions on others, develop empathy and practise conflict resolution.
Professional development for teachers will be enhanced, along with a greater use of technology to support their work.
And schools will continue to build trust with parents and work with them through mutually respectful communication and being good role models to children, said Mr Lee.
“We will do more to guide and support our children. Our schools must continue to be a safe space for children to learn the right values, discover who they are, build friendships, and fulfil their potential,” he added.
BullyingMinistry of EducationDesmond Lee
