3,100 Students on Average Caught Vaping Yearly from 2022 to 2024

MOE says sharp increase to pre-2020 numbers due to intensified enforcement

- Elisha Tushara

On average, about 3,100 students were caught for vaping offences annually from 2022 to 2024 in primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Education (MOE) told The Straits Times that the rise was due to intensified enforcement efforts.

At institutes of higher learning (IHLs) — the Institute of Technical Education, five polytechnics and six autonomous universities— about 800 students were caught annually during the same period.

This marks a sharp increase from the fewer than 50 cases across both schools and IHLs before 2020.

Amid these rising figures and a strengthened national push to curb vaping, stiffer measures against students caught for e-vaporiser-related offences will take effect from Sept 1.

"Schools will mete out disciplinary action, adjust the conduct grade of the student offender, and take educative and rehabilitative measures," said Education Minister Desmond Lee, who announced stricter measures on Aug 28 at a press conference on the whole-of-government commitment to tackle vaping.

These intensified disciplinary measures by schools and institutions, which range from detention to withdrawal of scholarships, are on top of the penalties imposed by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

Disciplinary actions in schools include suspension, detention and caning for boys. Recalcitrant offenders will face stiffer consequences.

In IHLs, students could be fined, face community service orders, and have privileges such as leadership and overseas exchange opportunities and scholarships withdrawn.