Singapore's School Bullying Crisis: A Discrepancy in Numbers Masks a Deeper Problem

Singapore's Hidden Bullying Crisis: Discrepancy in Reported Cases Sparks Debate Singapore faces a hidden crisis of school bullying. A recent survey of over 1,000 secondary school students revealed that 14% reported being bullied in 2024. This is far higher than the Ministry of Education's (MOE) official figure of 6 bullying incidents per 1,000 students. This discrepancy highlights the significant underreporting of bullying incidents in schools. The MOE's director of schools, Tan Chen Kee, explained that official figures only reflect reported cases. Many incidents are resolved informally between students and teachers, never making it into official statistics. "When there are disciplinary outcomes or proceedings, these would then be recorded and locked in." However, this leaves a large number of bullying cases unaccounted for. The report also includes a heartbreaking interview with the mother of "Michael," an 8-year-old boy who was repeatedly bullied. His mother described sleepless nights and her son's daily tears before school. She stated, "Every morning when he went to school, he would cry." Despite reporting the bullying, the school's response was limited, and the bullying continued. This situation highlights the need for improved reporting mechanisms and a more proactive approach to addressing bullying in Singaporean schools. The MOE acknowledges the problem and is working to create a culture where children feel safe to report such incidents. While the official numbers may seem low, the reality experienced by many students and families is far more serious.