Self-defence Lessons for Primary and Secondary School Students

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Education whether the Ministry can consider incorporating self-defence lessons into the physical education curriculum for Primary and Secondary schools which include violence prevention strategies and strategies on risk assessment and de-escalation of conflicts to prevent assaults.

The safety and well-being of all our students is of paramount importance. MOE's approach towards physical confrontation is to de-escalate conflict or run to seek help. Students are therefore taught to avoid physical confrontations as an important strategy to keep themselves safe. In situations of emergency or sudden unprovoked acts of physical violence in school or outside of school, students are taught to use the "Run-Hide-Tell" response to move quickly away from danger, to stay out of sight and to inform the authorities about the danger.

Self-defence lessons are currently not taught in our physical education curriculum. Teaching all students self-defence may encourage some students to physically defend themselves in response to a physical assault. In such instances, engaging in physical confrontations may potentially put students in greater risk even if they have attained some level of self-defence skills.

Students who are keen and have an interest to learn self-defence can do so through co-curricular activities or enrol in other community-based programmes.