Ho Chi Minh CitySeeing their child being beaten by the class teacher and sitting on him to force him to eat tangerines, the parents were shocked because this teacher had said she would never beat a child.
On the afternoon of April 24, when the leader of Linh Dong ward, Thu Duc city visited, Ms. Thanh Hong, the mother of the boy who was beaten and sat on by the teacher, said her child’s health was stable but was still haunted.
In the past few days, she noticed that her child was often startled and cried while sleeping, but thought it was a dream. “Seeing my child being beaten and pressed on me like that made me very sad. Watching the video made me tremble with anger,” she said.
Authorities identified the person who beat Ms. Hong’s child as Ms. Lam Thi Bach Nga, the class owner. In addition to this child, Ms. Nga also cornered a 6-year-old child and slapped him on the head, holding a plastic object because he broke the toy.
“The owner of the facility once said that the girls here never beat children, but I didn’t expect that she would beat my child,” Ms. Hong said.
Mr. Lam Dinh Thang, Vice Chairman of Linh Dong Ward, apologized and hoped parents would understand for not detecting the incident sooner.
“The authorities will handle it strictly, without leniency or cover-up,” Mr. Thang said.
Ms. Hong plans to let her child stay home for a while to stabilize her psychology. However, with the encouragement of the departments, she and her family will consider sending their children to another preschool facility.
The parents of the abused child (far right) discussed with representatives of Linh Dong ward, on the afternoon of April 24. Image: TT
Ti Bo kindergarten class is licensed to operate in 2020, at 149 Linh Dong, Linh Dong ward, Thu Duc city. This is a four-level house, with a small yard in front. Currently, this class has 24 children, from 3 to 6 years old.
Picking up their children from school on the afternoon of April 24, many people were shocked to learn that the owner of the facility was abusing the children. Ms. Thu, a parent, said she has sent her child here for more than 10 months.
“The teachers who directly take care of the children are very gentle and considerate, and Mrs. Nga is the owner. She only comes to class from time to time. After the incident, the parents were worried and confused, wondering if their children had been beaten for a long time.” , Ms. Thu said.
According to a report from the People’s Committee of Linh Dong ward, the incident occurred on the morning of April 11. Ms. Nga proactively met with parents to reconcile and compensate, but no consensus was reached. Ward police are verifying information to advise on handling according to regulations.
Ti Bo kindergarten has been suspended since April 25. During this time, Ms. Nga must ensure benefits for teachers and staff, and be responsible for parents and children studying.
Authorities said they will assist parents in moving their children’s care. A kindergarten class 500 meters away is ready to accept, tuition is 2-2.5 million VND per month, equivalent to Ti Bo facility.
Authorities posted a notice of suspension of operations and sealed the Ti Bo kindergarten on the afternoon of April 24. Image: TT
According to Circular 49 of 2021 of the Ministry of Education and Training, independent preschool education facilities are invested in by individuals or communities, ensuring operating conditions according to regulations. Depending on the scale (under 7 or over 7 children), teachers must meet standards of professional ethics, training level (from pedagogical college or higher), and receive professional training.
Le Nguyen
*Parent names have been changed
