Straits Times, Singapore, 3 April 2007

In other homes, counselling and 'time-out' method often work

By Yap Su-Yin

VOLUNTARY welfare organisations (VWOs) running children'shomes here say they reserve caning for serious disciplinaryproblems, and pitch the punishment to the offence.

In most cases, verbal warnings and counselling suffice.

There are 20 homes for children and teens here, including theDarul Ihsan home, where alleged abuse of residents is now underpolice probe.

VWO staff running similar homes were saddened by news of thealleged abuse in a place meant as a refuge for disadvantagedchildren needing shelter and care.

Said Pastor Andrew Choo of Andrew and Grace Home: 'It'sinhumane, these children must be taught with love, not abuse.They've had enough hurt in their lives.'

Over at Melrose Home, which is run by the Children's AidSociety for children and youth aged four to 18, getting the houserules across clearly from day one is key, said its executiveofficer Florence Ho.

Staff have not had any need to use the cane or set up atime-out room, she added.

Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home uses a time-out room togive its recalcitrants space to reflect on what they did wrong.

Other forms of punishment include extra hours of chores, orforegoing outings.

For bigger 'sins' such as vulgar language, extortion andbullying, an internal disciplinary committee agrees on theappropriate punishment.

If caning is meted out, guidelines dictate no more than threestrokes to the palm or buttocks.

The home also gets regular visits from an independent panelwhich scrutinises its operations, staff welfare, disciplinemanagement and safety standards.

The panel looks into how each disciplinary case is handled,and is free to ask the child involved to find out if the matterwas resolved satisfactorily.

Mrs Ho of the Children's Aid Society said: 'From ourexperience, it's really how you relate to these children. If yourespect them, they will respect you in turn.'

Straits Times, Singapore, 6 April 2007

Rules in place

THREE boys have been caned by head supervisor Amasha Yusof,60, since Darul Ihsan Orphanage introduced caning last October asa deterrent to serious misbehaviour such as theft, assault andtruancy.

Two boys were found smoking in the dormitory despite repeatedwarnings, and one had assaulted another boy.

'They had to fill a form to say what mistake they hadcommitted, and their living parents were informed. I willadminister one stroke of the cane in front of another officer,'said Mr Amasha.

Punishment is done in a structured way, and verbal warningsare preferred.

Staff members have been provided with a manual listing out theappropriate disciplinary action for minor and seriousmisbehaviour.

Senior boys and resident counsellors act as liaison personnel,aiding communication between staff and residents. They alsoreport cases of abuse to the management committee.

Children can also share their problems, including anyinstances of abuse, with orphanage volunteers during theirweekend tuition sessions.

Straits Times, Singapore, 6 April 2007

Orphanage ticked off 2 assistant supervisors

They were given stern warnings for using inappropriatepunishment methods on orphans

By Arlina Arshad

DARUL Ihsan Orphanage, which sacked a deputysupervisor recently for abusing his young charges, had issuedstern warnings to two assistant supervisors for 'less seriousabuse'.

In February this year, the orphanage - which looks afterMuslim orphans - sacked a deputy supervisor followinginvestigations by the management committee.

The 'internal inquiry', carried out in December last year afterseveral boys highlighted the alleged abuses during a sharingsession, also found that two assistant supervisors had shouted,pinched and slapped the shoulders of several boys.

All the alleged incidents took place in 2005.

The 103-year-old orphanage yesterday clarified its position toThe Straits Times following The New Paper's exposure, on Sunday,of the alleged abuses on its premises in Mattar Road.

Management committee member Ismail Ibrahim, 50, said theassistant supervisors, in their 40s and 50s, had worked there forthree to four years. He said: 'They used inappropriate punishmentmethods and had since apologised to the children. Considering itwas their first offence, we let them off with a stern warning.But if they do it again, we will immediately sack them and evenreport them to the police.'

The orphanage, set up in 1904 to care for and educate Muslimorphans, has 22 female and 24 male residents aged nine to 18years. There are 31 full-time staff working there. The sixassistant supervisors and one head supervisor ensure that thechildren attend school, do their homework, and perform prayers,among others.

Mr Ismail said 11 boys, aged nine to 14, told their counsellorduring an enrichment camp in December last year that they wereslapped, punched and had their necks held in choke-holds by thedeputy supervisor. One alleged that urine had been poured overhis head.

'We investigated, and sacked the deputy supervisor after headmitted to the abuse,' said Mr Ismail. The case was reported tothe Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. The man,in his 50s and employed by the orphanage in 2003, is now underpolice investigation.

Mr Ismail said the deputy supervisor has had no direct contactwith the children since April last year, after a nine-year-oldboy complained he was punched and had to be hospitalised. Thecase is still being investigated by the police. 'We reported theincident to the police and took him out of the orphanage and gothim to do administrative work like processing financialassistance,' said Mr Ismail.

On Monday, a 13-year-old boy told The Straits Times that hisfriend had been hit by one of the reprimanded assistantsupervisors. He said: 'My friend was fooling around and theassistant supervisor got angry. He hit my friend, who shieldedhis face with his hand. But, as a result, the pen my friend washolding accidentally scratched his own neck and left a littlegash.'

Mr Ismail said volunteers, staff and the residents have beentold to report any abuse case to the management committee.Guidelines are also in place to ensure that the children are wellcared for. 'We want the public to know that we do not tolerateabuse here, and anyone who does that is not fit to be here,' hesaid.