Have our school discipline rules completely failed?

Ravinder Singh, a reader of FMT, argues that Malaysia's school discipline rules have failed as they do not prevent severe student behavior decline or fatal school violence. The Education (School Discipline) Regulations 1959, which govern student discipline and corporal punishment in public schools, have become ineffective. The regulations require the cane to be used by the head teacher or a designated teacher, not the class teacher, and must be administered privately with a witness.

Singh, who used to be an assistant headmaster, witnessed a decline in discipline in his school, and implemented his own set of rules, leading to a significant improvement. He believes that judicious use of the cane, administered immediately after an offense, can help break negative behavioral patterns and restore discipline. However, Singh notes that there are no studies of actual cane use in real-life situations, and most studies are based on wrongful use.

He argues that strict discipline is necessary in secondary schools as well, and schools should set and enforce discipline standards, with parents supporting and respecting these rules.