Criteria for Immediate Mid-tenure Licence Shortening and Median Time Taken Between Investigation and Issuance of Corresponding Enforcement Actions in Past Three Years

Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in respect of the Early Childhood Development Agency's licensing of preschools (a) what criteria determine whether a safety violation triggers immediate mid-tenure licence shortening as opposed to other enforcement measures; and (b) for each of the past three years, what was the median time elapsed between determination of a safety violation and the issuance of any corresponding enforcement action.

To determine the appropriate enforcement action to take when a breach has occurred, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) comprehensively reviews all relevant factors, including the severity of the breach, whether the breaches were systemic in nature, and whether there were any aggravating or mitigating factors. ECDA will then determine the penalties to be meted out, which can range from financial penalties, shortening or revocation of the preschool's license. Depending on the complexity and nature of the case in the question, the time taken for ECDA to investigate and impose any enforcement action also tends to vary.