Case of Child Abuse Involving Educational Facility Manager Hired Without Childcare or Teaching Qualifications

Mr Ng Shi Xuan asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in respect of a recent child abuse case involving a manager who was hired by an educational facility despite not having any childcare or teaching qualifications (a) whether the Ministry has reviewed the case; (b) what are the relevant lessons learnt; and (c) what measures, if any, will be introduced to prevent recurrence.

Answer

1. The Member is referring to a recent news article which reported that a man hired by an “educational facility” providing accommodation to foreign students and workers, had allegedly abused victims who resided there.
2. The actual facts of the case are that the children’s parents engaged a private accommodation facility for their children while they were studying in Singapore. This facility is therefore not an educational institution.
3. Parents who contract for services for their children should exercise due diligence by making reasonable checks on the provider’s background, experience and suitability. Parents should also monitor the care of their child under the provider.
4. It is not practical to create a regulatory regime for every setting or activity where children are involved. The Children and Young Persons Act provides a broad safeguard by making it an offence for a person who has custody, charge or care of a child to ill-treat the child. This, together with other offences in the Penal Code, provide the overall framework to deter mistreatment of children, and punish those who flout the law.