DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOLS

Mr Gerard Ee asked the Minister for Education whether there is a growing problem with discipline in schools and to what extent can the school discipline the children.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: State of Discipline in Schools

As SMS Dr Aline Wong explained in Parliament during the Committee of Supply debate on Education in March this year, the state of discipline in schools is generally good. The great majority of students are hardworking, well-behaved and responsible. Serious cases of breach of discipline are infrequent occurrences.

Since 1995, MOE has implemented the Behaviour Tracking and Analysis (BETA) system in schools. The system represents a methodical way of collecting data on the state of discipline in schools. The implementation of the BETA system has allowed MOE to collect data on disciplinary cases very quickly and to respond to changing trends in disciplinary problems.

The records made by schools using the BETA system showed no significant statistical change in the offence rates (offence rates refer to the number of offences per 1000 pupils) from 1995 to 1997. There is, however, a significantly higher proportion of offences in the secondary schools than in the primary schools.

For primary schools, less serious offences such as not doing assignments and disruptive behaviour and attendance-related offences constitute 84% of the total number of offences. Offences such as theft/damage to property, assault and fighting, constitute the bulk of the more serious offences (16%).

In the secondary schools, top offences were attendance-related (74%), namely late-coming and truancy. Misconduct offences dropped by 1% to 3% each year over the 3-year period.

On the whole, the stabilising of the offence rate can be attributed to the concerted and co-ordinated efforts taken by schools and agencies such as the Police, the Ministry of Community Development, the juvenile court, Voluntary Welfare Organisations and self-help groups in managing discipline.

Schools are continuing in their efforts to improve the state of discipline. MOE is also alert to the possible changes in trends in discipline problems and juvenile delinquencies and are taking measures to address potential problems.

An area of concern is the increase in the number of cases of substance abuse from 33 cases in 1995 to 272 cases in 1997. MOE and MHA are working very closely together to try to contain this problem.

Another area of concern is the growing offence rate amongst female pupils in the secondary schools. The female offence rates, though lower than the male offence rates, have increased by 6% to 9% per year compared to the rate for boys which has remained fairly constant. A committee chaired by the Senior Minister of State for Education, Dr Aline Wong, was set up in May this year to look into the discipline situation among girls in schools. The report by this committee should be ready by the end of this year. Extent School Can Discipline Its Pupils

The Ministry has adopted the philosophy that to care is to discipline. The extent to which schools care for the pupils under their charge is the extent to which schools can discipline its pupils. In general, schools have adopted a whole-person approach to discipline. Thus, in the discipline of pupils, schools are mindful of the needs of the pupils.

While schools do mete out consequences for misbehaviour, counselling is often used together with these measures to help the child correct his behaviour. Schools also work in partnership with parents in disciplining their children so that they can provide the necessary home support to sustain the changes in behaviour.

While principals are allowed to administer corporal punishment on male pupils, many schools restrict its use only to very serious offences such as assaults, extortion and vandalism. Schools have to abide by the guidelines on corporal punishment provided by MOE.