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Outcome of ECDA's Investigations on Child Mismanagement Incident at GU+MMI Smart Kids

Type: Press Releases

Topic(s): Children & Families

Published on 24 January 2025

  1. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has concluded its investigations of child mismanagement by three staff in a preschool, GU+MMI Smart Kids at 9 Jalan Jarak, Seletar Hills Estate, in February 2024.
  2. On 26 February 2024, a parent and the preschool separately reported to ECDA alleged incidents of child mismanagement at the preschool. ECDA commenced investigations, which included an unannounced visit to the preschool, review of CCTV footages, interviews with staff and parents, and verification of records. The preschool suspended the three staff in question on 26 February 2024 and subsequently terminated their employment. These staff were also not allowed to work in other preschools while investigations were ongoing. 
  3. To ensure that children still enrolled in the preschool were adequately cared for, ECDA had instructed the licensee to ensure that close supervision and guidance were provided to the preschool’s remaining staff, while investigations were ongoing. A full-time staff from the licensee’s Headquarters was placed in the preschool to ensure this. Due to parents withdrawing their enrolled children from the preschool, the preschool has not had any enrolments since 21 March 2024. 
  4. ECDA has since concluded our investigations and our findings revealed that there were multiple breaches of the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC) Regulations, committed on two children at the preschool.
  5. Firstly, the three staff had contravened ECDC Regulations, which prohibit preschool educators from using any inappropriate child management practices, such as corporal punishment and harsh responses. These staff have been issued a warning under the ECDC Regulations and barred from working in the preschool sector. Police investigations are ongoing against the three staff.
  6. Secondly, the preschool management did not ensure that its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on child management were enforced and gave inadequate guidance and support to the staff in the management of children. They had failed to safeguard the well-being of the children under its care.
  7. Taking into consideration these systemic lapses and the severity of the incidents at the preschool, ECDA has revoked the preschool’s licence with effect from 2 January 2025. This followed ECDA’s issuance of a notice to the licensee, GU+MMY Pte. Ltd., on 13 December 2024 and careful consideration of the representations from the licensee.
  8. As the regulatory body for the preschool sector, ECDA has put in place clear policies and requirements that establish the baseline for a safe environment for early childhood care and education. There are explicit provisions in the ECDC Act and Regulations to safeguard the safety and well-being of children in Singapore’s preschools. Operators must establish child-safe policies and take proactive steps to ensure these policies are implemented effectively and consistently at their preschools. ECDA will not hesitate to take actions should there be breaches of our regulatory requirements.