My beloved daughter tragically lost her life during a mandatory school trip to the Maldives. In a devastating twist of fate, the school responsible faced no governmental investigation, no external scrutiny—because it is a privately funded institution, not subject to Ministry of Education (MOE) oversight.

This harsh reality reveals a dangerous loophole in Singapore’s education system: Privately Funded Schools (PFS), while educating thousands of Singaporean children, are allowed to self-regulate with no obligation to report to the MOE when serious incidents—such as the death of a student—occur. My daughter’s school conducted its own internal review, absolved itself of responsibility, and moved on. There was no transparency, no independent assessment, and no justice.

This cannot continue.

We must close the regulatory gap that allows such institutions to operate without meaningful accountability. Our call to Parliament and policymakers is simple but urgent:

• Extend MOE oversight to cover all PFS operations, especially in matters of student safety, injury, or death.
• Mandate transparent reporting of risk assessments and emergency protocols.
• Require regular independent safety audits and compliance checks.
• Create an ombudsman or external grievance mechanism for affected families.

These reforms are not just procedural—they are moral. They are about protecting every child entrusted to a school’s care, regardless of whether that school is public or private.

No other parent should suffer the same preventable loss. No institution should be allowed to mark its own homework when a child dies on its watch.

Help us push for this change. Sign this petition to demand that all schools—regardless of funding model—be held to the same safety standards and oversight. Our children deserve nothing less.