2024年7月2日，新加坡社會及家庭發展部長馬善高在國會書面答覆拉丁馬士單選區議員楊益財有關幼兒園虐童案件及教師支助措施問題。
以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
楊益財（拉丁馬士單選區議員）先生詢問社會及家庭發展部長：
(a) 過去五年，幼兒發展局每年調查了多少幼兒園虐童案件？
(b) 幼兒園虐童案件是否呈上升趨勢？
(c) 教育部是否已確定可實施的任何預防性措施，以幫助幼兒園教師應對其工作要求？
馬善高（社會及家庭發展部長）先生：幼兒培育署 (ECDA) 調查的兒童管理不善案件數量從2022年的137起略微增至2023年的147起。三年來，經證實的兒童管理不當案件平均數量略有增加，從2022年的每10萬名註冊兒童約11起案件增加到2023年的約12起案件。調查和經證實的兒童管理不當案件數量的增加，可歸因於家長和教育工作者提高了警惕性和對適當舉報渠道的認識。
所有教育工作者都應為兒童提供安全和有利的環境。幼兒培育署 (ECDA)加強了培訓計劃，以便所有教育工作者都清楚自己有義務確保兒童安全。此外，幼兒培育署 (ECDA)還在審查我們的監管框架，以期加強對違規經營者的處罰規定。
幼兒培育署 (ECDA)已採取措施，改善教育工作者的福祉和工作條件，以便他們更好地照顧我們的孩子。這包括從2025年起取消託兒所必須在星期六營業的規定，以及從2024年起，除了六個發展日外，指定教師節和兒童節為學前假期。這將使教育工作者有更多的時間休息並專注於自身發展。
幼兒培育署 (ECDA)還希望建立一支替補人員隊伍，以更好地讓教育工作者休假。家長也有責任肯定我們教育工作者的工作，並對教育工作者抱有合理的期望，例如何時回復夜間發送的信息。
以下是英文質詢內容：
CHILD ABUSE CASES IN PRESCHOOLS AND TEACHER SUPPORT MEASURES IDENTIFIED
37 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) for each year in the past five years, how many cases of child abuse in preschools have the Early Childhood Development Agency investigated; (b) whether there is a rising trend of child abuse in preschools; and (c) whether the Ministry has identified any upstream measures that can be implemented to help preschool teachers cope with the demands of their jobs.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The number of child mismanagement cases investigated by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) increased slightly from 137 cases in 2022 to 147 cases in 2023. The three-year average number of substantiated child mismanagement cases increased slightly from about 11 cases per 100,000 children enrolled in 2022 to about 12 cases in 2023. The increase in the number of investigations and substantiated child mismanagement cases can be attributed to increased vigilance and awareness of appropriate reporting channels among parents and educators.
All educators are expected to provide a safe and conducive environment for children. ECDA has strengthened training programmes so that all educators are clear of their obligations to ensure child safety. Additionally, ECDA is also reviewing our regulatory framework, with a view to enhance the penalty provisions on errant operators.
ECDA has introduced measures to improve the educators' well-being and working conditions so that they can better care for our children. This includes removing the requirement for childcare centres to operate on Saturdays from 2025 and designating Teachers' Day and Children's Day as preschool holidays, on top of six Development Days from 2024 onwards. This allows the educators to have more time to rest and focus on their development.
ECDA is also looking to put in place a relief staff pool to better enable educators to take time-off. Parents also play a role in appreciating the work of our educators and having reasonable expectations on educators, such as when to expect replies to messages sent at night.
LEO丨編輯
HQ丨編審
新加坡國會丨來源
