As per the article on Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper on November 26, Pham Thi My Linh, born in 1974 from the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong and her assistants were filmed physically abusing kids in their daycare center.
Local police November 27 summoned Linh and two assistants to the police office. Initially, Linh confessed her cruel acts due to work pressure.
In the same day, many parents took their kids to police office to help investigators. Police said the private facility keeps children aged 3-5 mostly workers’ kids in the districts.
Head of the local bureau of education and training Khuu Manh Hung said that inspectors from the bureau and the People’s Committee November 23 paid an unscheduled visit to the school discovering two unqualified babysitters. Owner Linh explained that the teachers quitted the job; accordingly, she hired the two for probation without contract.
Following the newspaper article, People’s Committee November 27 convened a meeting with relevant agencies to seek solutions to child abuse and how to prevent this evil in private facility.
In the meeting, Deputy Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thu said it is time to end the abuse of children at local kindergartens and childcare facilities by applying specific measures, including the installation of surveillance cameras which must be connected with parents.
Ms. Thu added that she felt indignant after watching the clip which showed the owner and two assistants kicked on children’s back and hit toddlers with plastic casks. Ms. Thu could not believe in her eye when seeing women beat children cruelly.
At present, People’s Committee in district 12 and relevant agencies planned to have comprehensive inspection to preschools especially private daycare center to check facilities and food safety.
However, the locations of such devices should be taken into careful consideration in order not to violate human rights, a police official said at the meeting.
Ms. Thu asked the police and the education sector to liaise on the problem; nevertheless, all schools must be installed cameras.
