Louis Chua calls for using CCTVs in schools to ensure child safety in wake of viral videos of rough handling of toddlers

SINGAPORE: After videos of a preschool teacher rough-handling young children were spread online, Workers’ Party MP Louis Chua (Sengkang GRC) urged for the proper use of CCTVs in preschools, a matter that he had brought up in Parliament just last month.

The videos were from incidents that allegedly occurred at Kinderland Preschool @ Woodlands Mart, and the teacher involved has been dismissed and is under investigation.

In a Tuesday (Aug 29) Facebook post, Mr Chua, who had two little boys at preschool, called the videos heart-wrenching, saying that he’s sure other parents feel the same.

However, he raised the point that the videos had likely been taken from a mobile phone and quoted an article from CNA where one mother said that there are no cameras at the preschool.

“A few months ago, I was told that some preschools do not have CCTVs installed, which prompted me to raise a question in Parliament on whether this is mandatory, and just how many preschools do not have CCTVs on premise,” he wrote.

“There is a tremendous level of trust placed in our preschool teachers, and I’m sure the majority of our preschool teachers love our children like their own.

However, I strongly believe that the proper use of CCTVs with appropriate safeguards/controls in place will allow parents, teachers, the management team of preschools and the authorities to have greater peace of mind.

And in unfortunate incidents such as this, evidence over a period of time can be collected and reviewed quickly.

I do hope this is a measure the authorities will reconsider for the benefit of all stakeholders involved.”

Ms Poh Li San, the MP representing the Sembawang West division of Sembawang GRC (PAP), addressed the incident in an Aug 28 Facebook post, writing, “Such unprofessional acts certainly cannot be condoned and the staff must be brought to task.”

She added that she is assisting the parents of the children affected by the teacher’s ill-treatment.

/TISG

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