Ho Chi Minh City Authorities Investigate Preschool Amid Allegations of Child Abuse

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City's Tam Binh Ward have launched an investigation into a preschool following allegations that a young boy was subjected to inappropriate treatment by teachers. The probe, involving police and the ward's People's Committee, was prompted by social media posts and videos shared by the child's parent. On July 18, noon, Mr. Nguyen Minh Dien, Chairman of the Tam Binh Ward People's Committee, stated that the local authorities had formed a task force and were coordinating with the police to work with the school. The boy's mother, the principal, and several involved teachers were also summoned to the Tam Binh Ward Police for questioning, which lasted several hours. "If the verification results show violations, we will strictly handle them according to regulations," Mr. Dien said. Previously, social media was abuzz with posts and videos shared by a parent, alleging that their son was treated inappropriately by teachers during his time at the school. According to the family's account, for many months, the boy was often separated from his peers during nap time, made to lie near the restroom, next to the trash can, and on the doormat. At one point, he was left to sit alone in the storage area, kitchen, and even left the school premises during class before being brought back by residents. In response to VnExpress, Ms. Linh, the boy's mother, said her son has mild hyperactivity. The family had noticed changes in her son's psychology, fear of going to school, and declining health, leading to multiple medical examinations without a clear diagnosis. "When I reviewed the images recorded in the classroom, I was shocked because things happened to my child that the family was unaware of," Ms. Linh said, urging authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident, clarify the responsibilities of the individuals involved, and ensure the safety of the children currently attending. According to Ms. Linh, after meeting with the family, the teachers admitted to shortcomings in childcare and management, including allowing the child to lie outside the room during nap time, near the restroom area. The principal of the preschool stated that she was aware of the incident beforehand and had instructed teachers to rectify childcare practices, ensuring similar incidents would not recur. The class where the boy studied has about 40 children. By noon, some parents arrived to pick up their children after learning about the incident. One parent said they would wait for the authorities' verification results before deciding whether to continue sending their child to the school. Pham Hai