SINGAPORE – A childcare centre here has denied allegations that it had neglected children and fed them rotten fruit.
Photos of the centre were circulated on Chinese social media platform Wechat last Tuesday (Feb 14).
In a statement to the media on Wednesday (Feb 22), Sam’s Early Learning Centre in Jalan Mutiara, off River Valley Road, said it believes the photos were posted by an unhappy former employee who has since returned to China.
Mrs Samia El-Ibiary, the centre’s director, said that the photos were taken last year and they “do not represent an accurate picture” of its operations.
One picture showed children lying on the floor without mattresses, to which the centre clarified that the students were doing “stretching and breathing exercises” after lunch.
A second photo claimed that rotten fruit was served to the children. But Mrs El-Ibiary said that rotten fruit are disposed of. She also added that the fruits are purchased twice a week.
Another photo accused the centre of throwing away milk powder purchased by parents.
Mrs El-Ibiary clarified that the milk powder had spilt onto the kitchen counter and was being discarded for hygiene reasons.
The picture of a child smeared in faeces was accompanied by an allegation that the child had eaten his own excrement.
In response, the director explained that the toddler had a habit of pulling his diapers off while having bowel movement during his nap time.
“On this particular day that the photo was taken, the teacher had called upon the cleaner to assist in the cleaning up of the child. The cleaner was asked to help wash the toddler while the teacher held him and distracted him,” she said.
A spokesperson from the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) said that the centre is currently being investigated.
Read also: Case of abuse at Teck Whye Lane childcare centre being investigated
It added that “under the Child Care Centres Act, all childcare centres are required to meet the stipulated regulatory requirements to protect the safety, wellbeing and welfare of children in centres”.
debwong@sph.com.sg
