Singapore's Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is making preschools safer for your children. Starting July 1, 2024, all preschools will install CCTV cameras in key areas where kids play and learn. To protect everyone's privacy, we won't put cameras in restrooms or staff rooms. Plus, parents can ask to see the footage, but there are some rules to follow.
CCTV Rules for Preschools
When Will This Happen?
From July 1, 2024, all preschools in Singapore will have CCTV cameras. They'll watch over classrooms, play areas, and more, keeping an eye on your little ones for their safety.
Respecting Privacy
To make sure everyone's privacy is safe, we won't put cameras in some places. These include toilets, changing rooms, and staff rest areas. It's all about finding the right balance between safety and privacy.
Parents Can Check the Footage
Parents can ask to see what the cameras recorded, but there are rules:
- You can watch it if you need to clarify something or if there's a serious problem at preschool.
- Wait until the preschool looks at it first. Only if they say it's okay can you watch it.
- If the ECDA or another agency is already checking, you'll have to wait for their decision.
What's Happening Now
The ECDA has been talking to preschools about this since February 2023. Already, more than 60% of preschools and all Early Intervention (EI) centers have cameras. This makes sure no one bad gets in and helps if there's a problem.
Making Preschools Safer
Adding cameras to preschools makes them even safer. It gives parents and teachers peace of mind. The ECDA will work closely with schools to make sure the cameras are set up right and used the right way. This will keep your child, teachers, and everyone else safe and happy.
Why This Is Important
This change came after two problems at Kinderland branches. Videos showed teachers not treating kids right. People got upset and wanted more safety in preschools. The ECDA decided to add cameras as a way to make things better.
In short, the new CCTV cameras in Singapore's preschools will keep your child safer and give you peace of mind. It's all about finding the right balance between safety and privacy, so your child can have the best preschool experience.
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