The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA ) announced on Friday ( Jan 24 ) that a preschool in Seletar’s license was revoked after an investigation revealed numerous violations of school regulations.
Three GU MMI Smart Kids people are also the subject of an investigation by the authorities at 9 Jalan Jarak, Seletar Hills Estate. All three have been , barred from working in the daycare industry.
On , Feb 26, 2024, a family and the university differently made reports to ECDA , over alleged happenings at the daycare.
Following the information, ECDA commenced studies, which included an unexpected visit to the school, a review of CCTV footage, conversations with team and families, and identification of records.
The agency stated in a news release on Friday that “ECDA has since concluded our investigations and our findings revealed that there were numerous violations of the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECD ) Regulations, committed on two children at the preschool.
After kids withdrew their kids from the center, the school had stopped having students since Mar 21, 2024, according to the ECDA.
WHAT ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED
A family reported to CNA that the school administration had shown her CCTV images of her three-year-old boy being scolded in a dark place after the first allegations of fraud were made in the first 2024.
The child had previously explained to her that this was a form of misbehavior abuse.
The family added that the video even showed two teachers working. They appeared to be slamming the door and screaming at her brother as they appeared to be doing it in enrage.
Another family, who just wanted to be known as Mr Gerard, shared that his four-year-old son had become exceedingly violent, had difficulty sleeping and resisted going to school.  ,
First, the home attributed these shifts to problems caused by vacations and festive occasions. Never thought something more severe, they had assumed the child just wanted to stay at home and enjoy.
The condition escalated when the school sent a letter to families, revealing a” child mishandling” affair and announcing the immediate expulsion of three teachers to help investigations.  ,
Mr. Gerard and his wife interrogated their brother, who later revealed that he had repeatedly been locked in a dark place.  ,
Schooling FAILED TO SAFEGUARD CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING: ECDA
The daycare terminated the three employees on February 26, 2024, and they were then suspended. In addition, while investigations were pending, they were prohibited from working in another preschools.
” The three workers had contravened ECDC Regulations, which prohibit school educators from using any inappropriate infant management techniques, such as corporal punishment and terrible reactions”, said ECDA.
” These employees have been given a warning and prohibited from working in the preschool sector as a result of the ECDC Regulations.” Police inquiries are ongoing regarding the three employees.
The preschool management did not follow the preschool management’s Standard Operating Procedures ( SOPs ) for child management and did not give the staff any adequate guidance and support in the care of the children.
” They had failed to safeguard the well-being of the children under its care”, it said.
On January 2, 2025, ECDA revoked the preschool’s license in light of these systemic lapses and the severity of the incidents at the preschool.
The revocation followed an issuance of a notice to the licensee, GU MMY, on Dec 13, 2024 careful consideration of the representations from the licensee, ECDA said.