New resources, training, and reporting tools aim to help schools tackle bullying more effectively

Singapore is stepping up its response to bullying in schools with new support measures for educators, stricter disciplinary approaches, and stronger efforts to build empathy and intervention skills among students.

MOE Expands School Resources To Manage Bullying
The Ministry of Education said schools will receive additional resources to address bullying more holistically while reducing pressure on teachers. These include funding to hire more support staff such as youth workers, pastoral care officers, and parent liaison officers, as well as technology tools to improve case management and enable faster communication. Educators will also receive more training in investigative skills, conflict resolution, and parent engagement so schools can respond to bullying cases more effectively.

Review Produced Nine Recommendations For Stronger Action
The new measures follow MOE’s comprehensive review of bullying in 2025, which gathered views from more than 2,000 educators, parents, students, and professionals. The review focused on four areas: supporting educators, enhancing values education, strengthening school culture and processes, and improving partnerships with parents. Based on this, MOE developed nine recommendations that will be introduced progressively from 2026, including a stricter disciplinary regime for serious misconduct and a new online reporting system for bullying cases by 2027.

Role-Playing Lessons Will Be Used To Build Empathy
Education Minister Desmond Lee said upstream measures such as values education and character building remain just as important as discipline. New Character and Citizenship Education lessons will include role-playing and realistic bullying scenarios for both primary and secondary school students. Through these activities, students will learn perspective-taking, conflict resolution, and how to become upstanders who intervene rather than stay silent when bullying happens.

Students And Parents Support More Practical Approaches
At Teck Ghee Primary School, pupils taking part in role-playing exercises said the lessons helped them better understand what bullying and exclusion feel like. Students said acting out these situations made the issue more real and gave them more confidence to respond appropriately. Parents interviewed also welcomed the changes, with some saying immersive activities can shape better behavior, while others suggested stronger investigation processes and greater consistency across schools could help prevent repeat offenses.

MOE Says Bullying Must Be Tackled As A Shared Responsibility
MOE emphasized that bullying cannot be addressed by schools alone and requires coordinated action from educators, parents, students, and the broader community. The ministry said the goal is not only to discipline misconduct, but to turn harmful incidents into teachable moments through an educative and restorative process. By combining firmer discipline, stronger teacher support, and more student involvement, MOE hopes to create a more respectful and caring school environment over the long term.

Singapore’s latest anti-bullying measures show a broader shift toward tackling the issue through both stronger enforcement and earlier intervention. For Singaporeans, the changes signal a more structured and consistent approach to student safety and school culture. For Indonesians and Singaporeans alike, the move also highlights how education systems are increasingly recognizing that bullying is not just a disciplinary issue, but a wider social and developmental challenge that needs collective action.

Sources: Straits Times (2026) , CNA (2026)

Keywords: Singapore Bullying Measures, MOE School Support, Anti Bullying Singapore, Character And Citizenship Education, School Discipline Singapore, Student Welfare