GUIDELINES ON DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS IN SCHOOLS

Mr Gerard Ee asked the Minister for Education whether there is a need to issue detailed guidelines on disciplinary actions to ensure consistency of application and to provide some comfort to those schools which face the need to take such actions on students.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Guidelines on Disciplinary Actions

Schools are given broad guidelines on the approaches and actions they could adopt in managing pupil discipline. These guidelines include the development of a comprehensive system of discipline involving all teachers, the setting up of referral systems as well as the use of a variety of measures, ranging from the preventive to the corrective.

The guidelines drawn up were based on the principles that punishment is only a means to an end; that it must be commensurate with the seriousness of the offence committed, and appropriate to the nature of the offence committed. Schools include counselling as an integral part of the corrective process to ensure that the punishment is meted out with care and concern and that the pupil understands the reason for his punishment. Parental involvement would be sought when deemed necessary. In extreme situations where corporal punishment needs to be meted out, as a measure of last resort, principals are empowered to do so within the guidelines set by the Ministry.

Consistency of Application of Disciplinary Actions

While the broad guidelines ensure a general consistency of approach and actions across schools, schools are, and must be, given the flexibility to develop their own discipline policy with regard to specific disciplinary problems. This degree of school autonomy is essential as school situations differ. Detailed guidelines on what schools can and cannot do would curtail the ability of the schools to manage its discipline situation effectively.