The number of reported instances of online bullying is expected to "progressively rise", said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, as children have wider exposure to influences especially on the internet, and more people become aware of what cyber bullying looks like.
There are fewer reported cases of online bullying than offline cases, but this could be because people are "less sensitive to what constitutes online bullying", he said in Parliament on Oct 14.
Mr Chan was responding to Ms He Ting Ru (Sengkang GRC), who asked for the breakdown between online and offline bullying incidents reported to schools.
The average number of bullying incidents has remained steady, he said.
For every 1,000 students, there is an annual average of two incidents of bullying in primary schools, and six incidents in secondary school. These incidents cover all forms of bullying, both in and outside school.
Of these, the use of technology is involved in fewer than one incident per 1,000 secondary students and even fewer than that in primary schools.
Eight MPs, including Ms Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) and Mr Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC), asked about the recent spate of bullying videos circulated online and in chat groups, and how the Ministry of Education (MOE) is tackling such incidents.
Mr Louis Chua (Sengkang GRC) also asked whether the number of reported cases truly reflects parents' concerns, and MOE's approach to detecting and addressing bullying over the years.
Videos in September showed a boy punching a smaller Qihua Primary School boy, and a group of Bukit View Secondary School boys taunting a fellow student at the void deck of a Housing Board flat.
Denne historien er fra October 15, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra October 15, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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BLACK DAY FOR BRITISH PUBS
At her London pub, landlady Kate Davidson has taken to issuing Guinness ration cards, but the beer still ran out amid a British shortage of Ireland's national drink.
Her Last Gifts
It was exhausting, he sighed. But Carol insisted; her name being what it was and his, she said with a big grin, being Chris. Remember, this is the blessed spirit of the season, to give as we have been given.
When You Think About Me
She empties the last drawer and, between stray baubles, there's the cookie tin, the one hunted down from some narrow shop in Liverpool because it didn't ship here.
Gift Of The Magi
Let's say you never intended to use Magi. Let's say you know about all the scandals: the accusations of stolen data, the EU lawsuits, the CEO's abhorrent behaviour. Let's say you don't even believe the outlandish social media claims that the app is magical, like actual magic. You know it's not possible it reads your mind, plumbs your soul, knows your heart's desires. You're not so gullible.
Ho Ren Yung: Steering global brand evolution of Banyan Group
Ms Ho Ren Yung, deputy chief executive of Banyan Group, oversaw the company's brand relaunch in a bumper year of 19 openings in 2024. These included Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto in Japan and Angsana Tengchong in China.
Jury-rigged Hotpot
The Japan Home folding table was just big enough to accommodate two.
Tales of love, peace and hope
The Sunday Times invites five authors to pen short stories around the theme of A Christmas Gift
Japan: Taking centre stage in Singapore and beyond
Scroll through your social media feed this holiday season, and practically everyone you know is in Japan or making plans to vacation there.
UOB: Most influential patron in Singapore art scene
UOB's \"day job\" is handling loans, deposits and a wealth of diverse portfolios. But the bank cemented its role as the most influential patron in the Singapore art scene in 2024, investing good chunks of cash in both arts and arts education.
Fong Chi Chung: Putien restaurants make dining out more affordable
In a year where diners made themselves scarce - preferring to spend their strong Singapore dollars overseas, and leading restaurant owners and chefs to despair over empty dining rooms - this power lister made a power move that others in the industry are watching closely.
