The number of parents who sought disciplinary help from the judiciary rose 44 percent to 167 in 2002, and the surge coincided with a sharp increase in juvenile crime, the report said.

Children 16 years old and below who are declared beyond parental control after running away or playing truant can be sent to an institution or put under the supervision of the Children's Society, a voluntary social association.

Social workers said a better option was for parents to learn the proper skills to handle their kids.

"The child feels he can't trust his parents, or that he's been tricked," warned Carol Balhetchet, director of youth development at the Singapore Children's Society.

"We should help them even before the problems start. Many parents focus only on academic excellence," said social worker Yee-Chow Choy Yin.

"They don't instill enough values, except materialistic ones. So children don't know how to choose right from wrong and fall prey to undesirable forces," she said.

In one case, a 14-year-old girl befriended a male who made her work for him as a prostitute.

"And she enjoyed being a prostitute," said Yee-Chow.

A police report issued last week said the number of juveniles arrested soared 55.8 percent from 2001 levels.

Singapore's school system is regarded as one of the most competitive in the world, with top students being put on a separate stream as early as primary school.

Critics complain that the cut-throat competition puts excessive stress on children and their parents alike.

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