In a shocking incident reported by Shin Min Daily News, 39-year-old Zhou Min, a Chinese national residing in Singapore, discovered bruises on her 9-year-old daughter. The cause? Alleged physical punishment meted out by a home-based tutor.
The woman had come to Singapore earlier this year with her husband to begin working at a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic, and she later brought her 9-year-old daughter to Singapore with plans to enrol her into a primary school.
A friend then recommended a home based tutor to help prepare the girl for the school placement exams, and Zhou then registered her daughter for the class.
The Tutor’s Methods
The tutor, a woman in her 60s, conducted English and Mathematics classes for the 9-year-old at her condominium in Ang Mo Kio.
The girl attended lessons every Wednesday to Sunday, from 9 am till noon, under the tutor’s guidance.
Allegations of Physical Punishment
The tutor’s methods reportedly included slapping, pinching arms, chest, and legs, and even using a clothes hanger and a metal rod for punishment.
While the parents were aware of the tutor’s disciplinary measures, they claim not to have realized the severity until the discovery of bruises.
The shocking details revealed by the daughter brought to light the previously underestimated severity of the tutor’s actions.
The girl shared that the teacher would punish her because of her perceived weak vocabulary, slapping and pinching her on her chest, arms and legs, as well as hitting her with a clothes hanger.
She also added that the teacher also used a 1-metre long metal rod to hit her in the face until her teeth was in pain.
Decision to Take Action
Prompted by her daughter’s distressing account, Zhou Min took immediate action, lodging a police report and discontinuing classes with the tutor.
Zhou Min took the matter to the police, initiating an investigation into the tutor’s alleged actions. The daughter also underwent a thorough check-up to assess the extent of the physical harm inflicted.
The police confirmed the receipt of the report and are actively investigating the case.
In response to the revelations, Zhou Min also promptly stopped her daughter’s classes with the tutor as of November 4th.