SINGAPORE: The recent incidents at Kinderland preschool centres where teachers were caught on video allegedly mistreating children are “not reflective” of the wider preschool sector, said Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling on Monday (Sep 18) in parliament.
“Many preschool educators have expressed shock and dismay," said Ms Sun about the alleged abuse cases from the Woodlands Mart and Sunshine Plaza at Choa Chu Kang preschools that surfaced on social media in late August.
“They have been dedicating their time and energies in caring and nurturing our children, putting the children’s well-being as the top priority.”
In two videos shot at the Woodlands Mart preschool, the teacher could be seen handling children roughly as she tried to force them to drink water. In a third video, she is seen shouting at a child and hitting them multiple times with a book.
The teacher, Lin Min, has since been charged with ill-treating a 23-month-old child by allegedly forcing the girl to lie down and pouring water into her mouth.
In the video from the Choa Chua Kang preschool, a teacher is seen forcefully handing a water bottle to a boy before smacking him on the head several times and pushing him away. The teacher has been arrested by the police and suspended by Kinderland.
“When the Kinderland @ Woodlands Mart incident first surfaced on social media, like many members of the public, parents, and preschool educators, I was shocked and alarmed. The videos were painful to watch,” added Ms Sun.
“This incident and the others at the Kinderland centres should not have happened. Our children deserve to grow up, learn (and) play in a safe and nurturing environment."
Ms Sun on Monday acknowledged that some members were concerned that the “heavy” workload for educators contributes to their stress and could lead to such “adverse incidents”.
To support educators, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is doing its part to "improve the career proposition and working conditions of preschool educators”, said Ms Sun.
These measures include increasing their salaries and providing resources for professional development, as well as programmes to look after their well-being.
Ms Sun shared that ECDA announced efforts in October last year to raise the salaries of educators to be “market-competitive and commensurate with their growing competencies”.
“We do so because we recognise and take pride in the improvements in the training and professionalism of our 24,000-strong workforce over the years, and want to retain the good quality educators that we have and attract more to join,” she said.
The government has since worked with government-funded operators to implement the increases in salaries this year and will continue to do so in 2024, she added.
ECDA also provides resources for educators to take charge of their professional development, deepen their expertise and plan for career advancement, Ms Sun said.
Additionally, EDCA has been taking steps to improve working conditions, such as to remove the requirement for childcare centres to operate on Saturdays. This major change, announced in July this year, was to enable educators to have “better work-life balance and sufficient rest to recharge”. It will take effect from Jan 1, 2025.
More moves are being planned, such as ECDA’s review of preschools’ practices on “non-contact-time” to provide educators respite during working hours to “refresh and complete non-teaching tasks”, she added.
The outcome of the review will be shared with the sector soon.
Ms Sun also highlighted the need for the support of parents and operators to implement such improvements in work conditions for the preschool sector, noting that “teachers who are cared for, can better care for our children”.
On the part of operators, she said they must take the lead in supporting the well-being of their employees.
To help operators support their employees, ECDA has launched a Good Practices Guide to guide them in implementing best workplace and human resources practices to foster a supportive work environment and support the well-being of their staff.
ECDA also works with the Health Promotion Board and the Workplace Safety & Health Council to offer programmes to operators and educators to support their overall well-being.
“We encourage educators who may feel overwhelmed to have open communication with their centre leaders or management on their work commitments and well-being,” she added.
Ms Sun also pointed to Member of Parliament (MP) Melvin Yong’s acknowledgement that “most educators are exemplary” and that “we ought to boost their morale as they have been affected by the recent incidents”.
She said she was glad to see that parents share this sentiment, and noted the “outpouring of support” for educators over the past few weeks.
“I have met many teachers who have devoted their time and energies to raising our children with love, while putting their well-being as a top priority,” she added.
“I fully understand that it is not easy to care for young children, but it is our teachers’ passion and commitment that spurs them to stay the course. Our children’s well-being is at the heart of what they do every day.”
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“Many preschool educators have expressed shock and dismay," said Ms Sun about the alleged abuse cases from the Woodlands Mart and Sunshine Plaza at Choa Chu Kang preschools that surfaced on social media in late August.
“They have been dedicating their time and energies in caring and nurturing our children, putting the children’s well-being as the top priority.”
In two videos shot at the Woodlands Mart preschool, the teacher could be seen handling children roughly as she tried to force them to drink water. In a third video, she is seen shouting at a child and hitting them multiple times with a book.
The teacher, Lin Min, has since been charged with ill-treating a 23-month-old child by allegedly forcing the girl to lie down and pouring water into her mouth.
In the video from the Choa Chua Kang preschool, a teacher is seen forcefully handing a water bottle to a boy before smacking him on the head several times and pushing him away. The teacher has been arrested by the police and suspended by Kinderland.
“When the Kinderland @ Woodlands Mart incident first surfaced on social media, like many members of the public, parents, and preschool educators, I was shocked and alarmed. The videos were painful to watch,” added Ms Sun.
“This incident and the others at the Kinderland centres should not have happened. Our children deserve to grow up, learn (and) play in a safe and nurturing environment."
Related:
SUPPORTING EDUCATORS, PRIORITISING CHILD'S WELL-BEING
Ms Sun on Monday acknowledged that some members were concerned that the “heavy” workload for educators contributes to their stress and could lead to such “adverse incidents”.
To support educators, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is doing its part to "improve the career proposition and working conditions of preschool educators”, said Ms Sun.
These measures include increasing their salaries and providing resources for professional development, as well as programmes to look after their well-being.
Ms Sun shared that ECDA announced efforts in October last year to raise the salaries of educators to be “market-competitive and commensurate with their growing competencies”.
“We do so because we recognise and take pride in the improvements in the training and professionalism of our 24,000-strong workforce over the years, and want to retain the good quality educators that we have and attract more to join,” she said.
The government has since worked with government-funded operators to implement the increases in salaries this year and will continue to do so in 2024, she added.
ECDA also provides resources for educators to take charge of their professional development, deepen their expertise and plan for career advancement, Ms Sun said.
Additionally, EDCA has been taking steps to improve working conditions, such as to remove the requirement for childcare centres to operate on Saturdays. This major change, announced in July this year, was to enable educators to have “better work-life balance and sufficient rest to recharge”. It will take effect from Jan 1, 2025.
More moves are being planned, such as ECDA’s review of preschools’ practices on “non-contact-time” to provide educators respite during working hours to “refresh and complete non-teaching tasks”, she added.
The outcome of the review will be shared with the sector soon.
Related:
Ms Sun also highlighted the need for the support of parents and operators to implement such improvements in work conditions for the preschool sector, noting that “teachers who are cared for, can better care for our children”.
On the part of operators, she said they must take the lead in supporting the well-being of their employees.
To help operators support their employees, ECDA has launched a Good Practices Guide to guide them in implementing best workplace and human resources practices to foster a supportive work environment and support the well-being of their staff.
ECDA also works with the Health Promotion Board and the Workplace Safety & Health Council to offer programmes to operators and educators to support their overall well-being.
“We encourage educators who may feel overwhelmed to have open communication with their centre leaders or management on their work commitments and well-being,” she added.
Ms Sun also pointed to Member of Parliament (MP) Melvin Yong’s acknowledgement that “most educators are exemplary” and that “we ought to boost their morale as they have been affected by the recent incidents”.
She said she was glad to see that parents share this sentiment, and noted the “outpouring of support” for educators over the past few weeks.
“I have met many teachers who have devoted their time and energies to raising our children with love, while putting their well-being as a top priority,” she added.
“I fully understand that it is not easy to care for young children, but it is our teachers’ passion and commitment that spurs them to stay the course. Our children’s well-being is at the heart of what they do every day.”
Continue reading...