Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether ECDA will introduce policy measures to increase transparency about preschools with safety violations and enforcement actions taken; (b) whether parents can access information about preschools' safety records and ECDA's regulatory actions; and (c) what safeguards exist to ensure parents are informed when serious safety violations occur at their children's preschools.
Answer
1 The Early Childhood Development Agency, or ECDA takes a serious view towards child safety issues. In cases of regulatory breaches, ECDA will not hesitate to take firm action against errant operators. This may include revoking the preschool's licence where breaches are severe and systemic, or when the preschool can no longer provide services in a manner that is safe for children.
2 Under the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC) Act and Regulations, preschools are also required to notify parents immediately when there is a serious incident or illness that affects their child, and to also report such incidents to ECDA. ECDA has released statements regarding incidents of serious safety violations in preschools and the corresponding enforcement actions taken. However, ECDA does not generally name the preschools, to ensure that the identities of children involved are protected, especially in cases where gag orders are imposed in court proceedings.
3 We recognise that parents are concerned about their children's well-being and safety in preschools. Parents can make informed decisions about preschools by considering the centre's licence tenure, which all preschools are required to display at a prominent location that is accessible to the public and which is also available on LifeSG platforms. The licence tenure serves as an indication of a centre's quality and performance. For example, a 24-month licence indicates that a centre has met all key licensing requirements, while a six-month licence indicates that the centre has several areas for improvement.