SINGAPORE – A preschool has fired a teacher after reports of rough handling of children. This incident is separate from a previous case where a man was charged with inappropriate behavior at the same center.
On September 8, an anonymous report about child mismanagement by a teacher was made to the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). Following the report, ECDA began an investigation. On September 13, they found evidence of misconduct and instructed the preschool to remove the teacher from her duties. The preschool terminated her employment on September 20 and stated that she will not be allowed to work at any other preschools.
In a letter to parents seen by The Straits Times, the principal mentioned that the incident involved the Playgroup class, which caters to children aged 18 months to two years. A police report has been filed, and investigations are ongoing.
The preschool was previously involved in a serious case in 2023 related to inappropriate behavior. Due to a gag order to protect the victim’s identity, the name of the center cannot be disclosed. In December 2023, a 59-year-old man was charged with using criminal force on a child under 14, intending to outrage modesty. This case involved a two-year-old girl who was allegedly molested by the man, who was a non-teaching staff member at the preschool.
In response to the recent incident, a spokesperson for the preschool told The Straits Times that they are cooperating with ECDA and apologized for what happened. He stated, “This is an unfortunate incident. The parents have been informed.”
On September 21, the preschool briefed parents on what occurred, how the situation was detected, and the actions taken in response. The spokesperson noted that the meetings went well and that parents appreciated the preschool’s transparency.
The preschool has implemented additional measures, such as counseling for staff and art therapy for children. All teachers have also been reminded about the standard protocols for managing children. The spokesperson added, “We are sorry that this has happened.”
The preschool has a total of 75 CCTV cameras, which are regularly reviewed as part of their operational procedures. On September 3, the principal noticed concerning behavior by the teacher while reviewing footage and addressed it with her. Further instances of rough handling by the same teacher were discovered during a review of additional footage on September 18.
Many parents at the preschool chose not to speak with The Straits Times. However, one father, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed concern but was satisfied with how the center handled the situation. He remarked, “I was concerned, but I also do not think it is the school’s fault. Bad teachers can be found in any preschool. What matters is how it is dealt with.”
Another anonymous parent stated that having CCTV cameras in the preschool helps build trust. They said, “Having surveillance in the school provides me some comfort at least.”
All preschools were required to install CCTV cameras by July 1 as part of a mandate from ECDA.
ECDA mentioned that they follow up on reports of child mismanagement through unannounced visits, interviews, reviews of CCTV footage, and verification of records. The agency also requires all preschool operators to have effective measures in place to ensure the safety of children, which includes consistently implementing child-safe policies and procedures.
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