ECDA will use AI to review CCTV footage in pre-school investigations, detect potential misconduct
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The Early Childhood Development Agency is working with video analytics providers to develop AI solutions that can detect safety hazards and potential misconduct in pre-schools.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
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- ECDA will use AI to improve its reviews of CCTV footage during investigations of misconduct in preschools, following mandatory CCTV installation in 2024.
- Preschools must provide CCTV footage to ECDA, and tampering with footage can result in fines up to $5,000 and/or six months' jail.
- While AI helps, ECDA won't mandate regular CCTV reviews to avoid burdening educators, emphasising existing safety measures like SOPs and supervision.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – Artificial intelligence (AI) will be used by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to improve the way CCTV footage is reviewed during investigations into suspected misconduct at pre-schools, said Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli on Nov 6.
He was responding in a written parliamentary reply to Mr Ng Shi Xuan (Sembawang GRC), who had asked if the Ministry of Social and Family Development will consider using AI to detect wrongdoing in CCTV recordings and mandate tamper-proof recording systems to prevent unauthorised deletions.
CCTV cameras were made mandatory in all pre-schools and government-funded early intervention centres
These could potentially be adopted under the agency’s Early Childhood Industry Digital Plan, which provides funding to help pre-schools implement digital technology to boost productivity, support educators and improve services.
He added that all pre-schools must install CCTV cameras and comply with ECDA’s regulatory requirements on the installation and maintenance of cameras, and the collection, storage and submission of footage.
“While ECDA does not prescribe the type of CCTV camera system that must be installed – for example, whether it must be a tamper-proof recording system – pre-schools must provide CCTV footage when requested by ECDA to facilitate investigations,” he said.
Mr Masagos said the agency will take firm action against errant operators or individuals who fail to meet regulatory requirements. Individuals who refuse to provide the required CCTV footage without reasonable excuse or have tampered with or destroyed CCTV footage can be fined up to $5,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.
In an earlier case, former pre-school cook Teo Guan Huat, 61, admitted on Oct 27 to sexually assaulting three girls aged one to two
Mr Masagos said ECDA does not mandate operators to conduct regular reviews of their CCTV footage. “(This) will increase the administrative burden on our educators, and potentially take time and attention away from their primary role to care for and nurture our children,” he said.
CCTV cameras in pre-schools are a part of existing measures to ensure child safety, he added.
Operators must put in place standard operating procedures for child safety, and ensure that these are implemented effectively by all their centres and staff, he said.
Child management practices must also be supervised, such as through regular walkabouts by principals to observe staff-child interactions.
Staff must also be empowered and provided with the channels to report inappropriate practices to their principal and management team.
“Everyone must play their part to provide a safe and secure environment in our pre-schools,” said Mr Masagos.
