These kids are traumatized the economic and social changes due to covid pandemic, they need counselling and be helped to adjust. Some are worried if their families will recovery economically from the damage while others their pocket money has been reduced drastically. Reintroducing caning will make it worse, when people are under anxiety the worst thing you can is to increase pressure, they will revolt. this why you find more strikes when the time for exams is near, in those moments student can not endure even a small mistreatment.