SINGAPORE, Nov 9 — A new study led by the National Institute of Education (NIE) in Singapore has found that about one in four upper primary students in the country experienced bullying, with a small number admitting they had also bullied others.

In Singapore, upper primary students are typically between 9 and 12 years old, covering Primary 4 to Primary 6.

Conducted with the Singapore Children’s Society and the National University of Singapore, the study, shared with media site CNA surveyed 581 children aged 9 to 13 and revealed that 23 per cent had been bullied within the past few months.

Despite expectations, most victims turned first to friends or parents for help rather than teachers.

The study highlighted the critical role of family support in preventing both victimisation and bullying, noting that children with strong parental support were less likely to be involved in bullying.

However, researchers warned that parents often advise their children to ignore bullying or report it to teachers, which might not always be effective.

Assistant Professor Cheung Hoi Shan, the study’s lead, emphasised that better parental strategies, such as open communication, are essential for supporting affected children.

The report comes amid rising concerns about bullying, particularly as viral videos circulate showing young people being assaulted.

Experts noted that bullying now extends beyond physical aggression to emotional and online abuse, which can be covert and often goes under-reported.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) reports that the overall number of bullying incidents has remained steady, with an average of two incidents per 1,000 primary students annually.

However, the study calls for greater awareness and support, particularly for unseen forms of bullying.