Singapore has opened a new front in its fight against school bullying by allowing caning for male students who abuse others, including online.

New guidelines discussed in parliament on Tuesday say schools may use caning as a last resort for male students aged nine and above. Reports indicate the punishment applies to bullying and cyberbullying, and schools can impose up to three strokes of the cane. The policy draws a hard line around student conduct and signals that authorities want schools to treat harassment with the same seriousness as other major disciplinary breaches.

Singapore’s new rules place physical punishment at the sharp end of its response to bullying, even as much of that behavior now plays out on screens.

The change stands out because it links a long-established disciplinary tool to a problem that often unfolds in less visible ways. Bullying once centered on classrooms, corridors, and playgrounds; now it can follow students home through phones and social platforms. By explicitly including cyberbullying, the guidelines suggest officials see online cruelty not as a separate issue but as an extension of school harm with real-world consequences.

Key Facts

  • Singapore introduced new school guidelines covering bullying and cyberbullying.
  • Caning applies only to male students aged nine and above.
  • Schools may impose up to three strokes of the cane.
  • The rules describe caning as a last-resort punishment.

The decision will likely sharpen debate over what deters bullying and what crosses the line in student discipline. Supporters may argue that schools need strong tools when intimidation escalates and victims suffer lasting harm. Critics, however, may question whether physical punishment addresses the roots of bullying or simply adds another layer of fear to the school environment. The guidance, as reported, leaves that tension unresolved.

What happens next matters beyond Singapore’s classrooms. Schools will now have to decide when behavior meets the threshold for such a severe response and how to apply the rules consistently. The rollout will test whether tougher penalties change student behavior, especially in digital spaces where cruelty can spread fast and leave damage that outlasts any formal punishment.