A Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) staff member who gave a presentation containing discriminatory claims against the LGBTQ community has been suspended from all duties.
In an update on the incident that happened last month, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing gave this update on Tuesday (Aug 2) in a written response to questions from Member of Parliament (MP) Xie Yao Quan and Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa.
On Tuesday, Ms Poa asked about the duties the counsellor was retaining and what safeguards were in place to ensure such incidents do not happen again.
Minister Chan Responded with “Following the incident, the school counsellor, who is an employee of Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), has been suspended from all duties, pending further investigation by the school personnel board”.
“Parents and students have been given the assurance that the views expressed by the counsellor do not reflect that of the school. The school has also emphasised the importance of respect and care for everyone in the school community”.
The school has been watching out for students who may be affected by this incident, Mr Chan added.
Teachers have been vigilant in monitoring their students’ well-being, and students who have concerns or require support have been encouraged to approach the School Leaders or a trusted adult in school.
Mr Chan also added that the school is reviewing its processes to ensure alignment with MOE’s curriculum and guidelines.
Backstory
The staff member had delivered the presentation to the school’s Secondary 4 cohort during an assembly talk last week.
The slides also associated homosexuality with problems such as alcoholism and sexual assault.
“We take a serious view of this incident and have met up with our students to address their concerns,” HCI spokesperson told the media in July.
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