In Singapore, new legislative measures allow for boys as young as nine to receive corporal punishment in the form of caning if they are convicted of bullying, as reported by The Guardian. These regulations were presented in Parliament on Tuesday, stating that male students involved in acts of bullying, including online harassment, could face up to three strokes of the cane as a final measure.
This policy change comes in response to a series of notable bullying cases and follows a comprehensive review that took place over the past year, which specifically targeted bullying behavior in schools.
Education Minister Desmond Lee addressed the Parliament, explaining that caning would only be applied when all other disciplinary actions have proven inadequate in light of the severity of the behavior. He emphasized that only designated teachers, with prior consent from the school principal, would be permitted to administer the punishment, adhering to a stringent protocol designed to ensure student safety.
Lee further noted that schools will take into account various factors, including the student’s maturity, to determine whether caning could serve as a meaningful lesson and help the student recognize the seriousness of their actions.
Singapore remains one of the few nations still practicing caning, a tradition that dates back to the era of British colonial rule. In the 19th century, corporal punishment such as whipping and flogging was commonly employed by colonial authorities. While many nations abandoned this practice following independence, Singapore has retained it.
Currently, caning is predominantly applied to male offenders aged 18 to 50, utilizing a cane measuring 1.2 centimeters in diameter and 1.2 meters in length. This form of punishment is enforced for various offenses, ranging from serious crimes to lesser infractions such as overstaying a visa by 90 days. Depending on the crime’s severity, individuals may face between three to 24 strokes of the cane.
Organizations such as UNICEF and the UN Children’s Agency have voiced strong opposition against corporal punishment, citing its detrimental effects on children’s physical and mental well-being and its potential to exacerbate behavioral issues over time. The World Health Organization has also raised alarms, highlighting a report from last year that revealed corporal punishment remains alarmingly common worldwide, affecting approximately 1.2 billion children aged 0-18 annually.
(Written by Nityanjali Bulsu, an intern at The Indian Express)
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