Parents say childcare centre's rule is unfair

Parents say childcare centre's rule is unfair

SINGAPORE - All the abused boy and his parents want is for him to go back to school.

But the school insists that he go through a development assessment which will ensure that he can cope with being in group care.

The boy's parents feel that this is an unfair requirement.

The boy was allegedly abused by his childcare teacher, who fractured the three-year old’s leg on July 5.

The closed-circuit television footage showing her dragging and dropping him went viral, after which the teacher was sacked. The boy has since recovered physically.

But NTUC First Campus, which runs My First Skool, said on Wednesday that before he can return to school, he has to go through the assessment at KK Women’s and Children’s hospital (KKH).

The boy’s mother, who has exhausted her annual leave to take care of her child, said: “We are really frustrated that we have to face this now.

“After waiting for more than three months just to get our son back to school, now they are telling us to go to KKH and get an assessment report to see if he is eligible for group care.”

The boy’s parents are now waiting for a confirmation letter from NTUC First Campus on their policy.

The boy’s father said: “I am very worried about my son’s future. He is still very traumatised by the incident.”

The couple are considering enrolling their child in a different childcare centre, but most centres are already fully booked.

NTUC First Campus says

NTUC First Campus said a developmental assessment for the boy will do more good than harm to his future.

Good social skills are one of the criteria for group care as it allows teacher-student interaction in a classroom scene, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

“Group care is not a one-on-one learning system, so it is important for the children to be able to interact freely with their peers,” the representative told The New Paper.

She said they are trying their best to have a sustainable relationship that does not compromise the safety and well-being of the child and the other children in the centre, as well as that of their teachers and staff.

Also, a basic level of trust, mutual respect and cooperation from parents are also needed for the childcare arrangement to be successful.

NTUC’s childcare arm declined to comment when asked if it was fair that this child has been singled out for a developmental assessment.

natasyai@sph.com.sg


Get The New Paper for more stories.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.