The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has reinforced its child protection protocols following the 2020 death of four-year-old Megan Khung, who tragically passed away due to child abuse.
In response to a Parliamentary Question from Hazel Poa, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) from the Progress Singapore Party, Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development, provided details of the changes to strengthen the child protection ecosystem.
The early warning signs were present well before Megan’s death.
In 2019, Megan attended a preschool where staff had noticed visible injuries on her.
The preschool submitted an incident report to the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) through a community worker from an affiliated Social Service Agency.
However, the report was inadequate, failing to fully describe the severity of Megan’s injuries, which led to insufficient intervention by the relevant authorities.
As a result of the case, MSF has enhanced its child protection protocols, focusing on improving how preschools report suspected abuse and how they handle children at risk, said Masagos.
He explained that these changes include new requirements for preschools to use a Sector-Specific Screening Guide.
This standardised assessment tool is designed to help staff more effectively identify and report signs of abuse.
Under the updated protocols, preschools are now required to report any concerns regarding child abuse to ECDA within 24 hours of detection.
Preschools now required to use diagrams for documenting visible injuries to ensure more accurate assessments
In cases where there are concerns about sexual abuse or visible injuries, or when there are signs of an immediate threat to a child’s safety, preschools are now required to consult the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) within two hours.
The updated protocols also demand more thorough documentation.
Instead of relying solely on written descriptions of injuries, preschools must now use a diagram to document any visible injuries on the child, Masagos added.
Poa in her PQ raised concerns about why the preschool staff did not follow the necessary procedures outlined in the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC) Regulations, which require educators and staff to report suspected child abuse immediately.
Instead, the preschool staff allegedly alerted Megan’s mother and her boyfriend, suggesting that any potential abuse would be referred to MSF. As a result, Megan was withdrawn from the preschool.
ECDA’s defence in Megan Khung case raises deeper concerns over child protection system lapse
On 8 April, MSF issued a press release, highlighting that ECDA had acknowledged the lapse in its response to Megan’s case.
According to MSF, the initial report submitted by the preschool did not fully describe the severity of the child’s injuries, which led to the failure to identify the seriousness of the situation.
The preschool had reported that Megan “appeared happy, had no further injuries, and had been attending preschool daily.”
ECDA, based on this information, did not see a reason to suspect abuse.NMany observers have expressed concern over this apparent lack of accountability.
Despite the conviction of Megan’s mother and her boyfriend on 3 April 2025, public scrutiny continues over why the warning signs were missed.
MPs raise concerns over preschool protocols and the adequacy of reporting and training on child abuse
The tragedy also prompted further questioning from MPs about the adequacy of the protocols currently in place.
MPs including He Ting Ru and Gerald Giam from the Workers’ Party, as well as Bishan-Toa Payoh MP Saktiandi Supaat from the People’s Action Party (PAP), raised concerns about the procedures used by preschools when handling suspected child abuse cases.
Saktiandi asked whether there were clear rules regarding the withdrawal of children suspected of being abused from preschool, as well as the adequacy of the current monitoring and whistle-blowing systems.
Giam also questioned ECDA’s measures to ensure preschool staff report suspected abuse directly to authorities and whether additional training is required to help staff recognise the signs of abuse.
He questioned whether preschool licensees must alert authorities when a child with suspected abuse issues is withdrawn from school, especially if concerns about the child’s well-being arise.
She also asked whether training requirements are updated to help staff identify abuse signs and understand their legal obligations.
Masagos Zulkifli reassures Parliament of strengthened preschool protocols and clearer reporting procedures for child abuse cases
Masagos reassured Parliament that the regulations governing preschool staff had been updated to better address these concerns.
He explained that all preschool staff are trained to recognise the signs of child abuse and neglect, and they are legally obligated to report any suspicions to ECDA.
In 2021, the ECDC Code of Practice was updated to include additional guidelines and procedures for preschools to follow in cases of suspected abuse.
The changes introduced a new set of operational guidelines and workflows, making it easier for staff to take the necessary steps when child abuse is suspected.
In addition, preschools are now required to report any child who has been withdrawn from preschool without valid reasons or who has been frequently absent, especially when there are concerns of abuse.
If such a case is identified, the preschool must inform a social worker or a MSF Child Protection Officer. If the child is not already working with a social service agency, the matter must be reported to ECDA for further assessment.
Immediate danger to a child requires direct contact with the police
MSF has also made it clear that any member of the public, including whistleblowers, can report suspected child abuse through the 24-hour NAVH, via the MSF website, or through the LifeSG app.
In cases where immediate danger to a child is suspected, the police should be contacted directly, Masagos added.
“Cases with child abuse and neglect concerns will be referred for support or intervention by relevant agencies, such as Family Service Centres, Child Protection Specialist Centres, or CPS, based on the assessed risk and severity.”
Masagos said the protocols outlined are the result of MSF’s reveiw of Megan’s case, aimed at identifying areas for improvement and systematically enhancing the overall child protection system.
Singapore Children’s Society: Megan Khung’s death a “collective failure”, urges stronger preschool safeguards
On 9 April, the Singapore Children’s Society issued a statement condemning the incident as a “collective failure” of the child protection system.
The charity acknowledged that while some educators had initially raised concerns, the system lacked sufficient response mechanisms to address the seriousness of the situation.
It called for stronger safeguards in preschools, including mandatory child protection training and the appointment of dedicated child safety officers.
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