SINGAPORE: Two six-year-old children involved in an incident where a boy allegedly touched a girl inappropriately at a Sparkletots Preschool on April 12 are being counselled by a psychologist, the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) said.
The girl had reported that a boy at the centre in Taman Jurong had touched her inappropriately and the centre's staff immediately notified the parents of both children, said the PCF in a statement on Monday (April 18) morning, adding that it has been investigating the matter.
"We deeply regret the incident and fully sympathise with the parents in their distress. Our top priority is the well-being of our young children," it said.
A child psychologist and teacher have been assigned to counsel the children, and the boy's parent has agreed not to send him to the centre for the time being, the centre said.
The PCF is also liaising with Ministry of Social and Family Development and Early Childhood and Development Agency on the matter, it added.
"Based on the findings and recommendations of the child psychologists, PCF will take the necessary follow-up action. We will do everything we can to ensure our students' well-being and to provide a safe and conducive environment for them."
According to a Facebook post by the girl's parent, the boy put his hand under the girl's skirt during afternoon nap time and admitted to doing so after being questioned. After receiving a call from her form teacher, the parent said that the principal's solution was to "bring the boy away from my daughter and case closed. Not even a word of apology from the school and not even a word of apology from the boy's parent."
"My girl is now feeling so frightened and traumatised. She even voiced out that she is so scared that it will happen again," the post said.
"Personally I feel that bringing the boy away from my daughter and putting him with other children is never going to solve the issue. Sooner or later there will be another victim if this is not resolved properly." - The Straits Times/ANN
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
