Former preschool teacher jailed for slapping 3-year-old boy, causing his head to hit cupboard

A former preschool teacher in Singapore has been sentenced to five months in jail for physically assaulting a three-year-old boy under her care. The 31-year-old Singaporean woman pleaded guilty to ill-treating a child, an offense under the Children and Young Persons Act.

The court heard that on September 12, 2025, the boy was found crying outside his classroom. When informed, the teacher took him inside, lifted him by his wrists, and threw him to the floor. After the child smacked her thigh in response, she slapped his arm. The commotion attracted other teachers' attention.

She then closed the classroom door and proceeded to slap the boy twice on the face. The force of the slaps caused the child's head to strike a nearby cupboard. The school principal witnessed the incident and immediately intervened, removing the boy and informing his mother. The boy later told his mother that the teacher had instructed him not to report the incident.

During a police interview, the teacher initially denied slapping the child, claiming she had only nudged his head, even after being shown CCTV footage of the assault. The prosecution sought a jail term of at least eight months, highlighting the breach of trust placed in educators. Despite the denial, the woman has since compensated the victim's family with S$15,000 (approximately US$11,600).