MOE Will Look At Four Areas In Review To Improve How Bullying Is Handled: Desmond Lee

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 Education Minister Desmond Lee on Aug 27.

- Shermaine Ang

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, Mr Lee added, and parents and schools need to work together closely to build trust.

The need for clearer and more timely communication with parents was among the findings from consultations with teachers, as part of a Ministry of Education (MOE) review, which began in 2025 to improve processes to address bullying and hurtful behaviour in schools.

Speaking to the media before a dialogue held at the MOE headquarters in Buona Vista, Mr Lee identified four areas that the ministry will be looking 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 include looking at its framework for discipline, rehabilitation and restorative practice.

Current reporting channels for students who experience bullying will also be made more accessible.

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.