Children need protection

Police officers take statement from suspect Nguyen Thi Quyen. Photo: Quang Ngai Police

According to the initial investigation by the police, Nguyen Thi Quyen, owner of the Nhu Y daycare facility, admitted to throwing the 14-month-old boy to the floor twice out of anger when he cried. This action caused the child to suffer a serious brain injury. When he was taken to the hospital, his body was purple, he was having convulsions, and his brain was 47% damaged.

It is worth mentioning that after the incident, Quyen deliberately created a fake scenario saying that the child fell from the high chair. When the family asked to review the camera, the subject refused. If it were not for the family's determination, perhaps the truth would have been buried.

The incident in Quang Ngai is not an isolated incident. For many years, cases of child abuse at private daycare facilities have been continuously appearing in the press: slaps, mouths being grabbed, threats, even locking children in the bathroom...

Babysitting is not a simple part-time job, nor is it “babysitting”. It requires knowledge, skills, and above all, love for children. A person who easily gets angry at a child’s crying should not, should not, and cannot be a babysitter.

In fact, in many urban areas and industrial zones, unlicensed childcare facilities are springing up more and more, nestled in residential areas. This is the choice of many poor workers who cannot afford to send their children to regular public kindergartens. Without a preschool education degree or a childcare certificate, these facilities still exist quietly, and only when something happens, usually after a tragedy, do the authorities appear.

Although after each incident, child abusers will face severe legal penalties, it is important to proactively prevent it, so that no more children become victims in what should be the safest place.

It is time for the whole society to take more substantial action. Local authorities and relevant agencies must tighten the conditions for opening and maintaining private childcare facilities; increase regular and surprise inspections. At the same time, strictly handle violating facilities and publicize the list so that parents know. And above all, it is necessary to strengthen communication and community education so that every adult understands that protecting children is not only the responsibility of the education sector, but also the duty of the whole society.

Relevant ministries, sectors and local authorities need to take a more concerted and drastic approach in managing, inspecting and handling childcare facilities. Only when the entire political system and society take part can children truly live in safe and loving arms.