For not doing his homework properly, a kindergarten punished a five-year-old boy by drawing on his cheeks, leaving angry red marks, reported the Shin Min Daily News.

The paper was alerted to the news by a complaint from the child's uncle and guardian, Mr Tan, who wrote to the Lianhe Zaobao about the incident a few days ago.

Zaobao reported that Mr Tan had not received an explanation from the kindergarten or the teacher.

According to the Shin Min Daily News, the boy was born in Beijing and both his parents are doctors. He came to live and study in Singapore only in May this year.

When contacted by reporters from the Chinese daily, Mr Tan's wife said their nephew began attending classes at the Modern Montessori International (MMI). All was fine until last month, when they found red scratches on the boy's cheeks.

Said Mrs Tan: "The boy's cheeks were very red and you could see scratch-marks. When I asked him about it, he said the teacher drew circles on his face because he had not done his homework properly."

Mrs Tan told Shin Min reporters that when she went down to the school, the Chinese teacher in question had admitted to punishing the boy. "She told me she did that because she saw my nephew drawing on his exercise book."

"I thought the punishment was out of line and the teacher should have controlled her anger. He is only a child after-all", said Mrs Tan.

Although the teacher had apologised when confronted, Mrs Tan was disappointed that the school did not take any disciplinary action action against the teacher.

"We feel the management should be held responsible too, but we have not received a formal apology from them so far."

Mrs Tan said they have since made a police report and lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports (MCYS), over the incident.