Department of Education and Training speaks out about the case of a boy who died in a water tank at a kindergarten

On the morning of April 26, VietNamNet reporters were present at the scene of the death of PBD (4 years old, residing in Cam Trung commune), under a water tank at Cam Trung Kindergarten (Cam Xuyen district, Ha Tinh ). According to observations, the concrete tank where D. had the accident was underground, the bottom of the tank was wide but the mouth was small. The mouth of the tank only protruded about 50cm above the ground, with a corrugated iron lid on top, surrounded by a steel mesh fence and locked.

According to the work schedule, this morning, kindergartens were supposed to organize make-up classes for students during the April 30 - May 1 holiday. However, after the death of baby D., Cam Trung Kindergarten is temporarily suspending classes for students.

Speaking with VietNamNet , Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Hoang, Head of the Department of Education and Training of Cam Xuyen district (Ha Tinh) said that the unit is working with Cam Trung Kindergarten and the police to clarify the case of PBD's death.

According to Ms. Hoang, the reason baby PBD died in the water tank was because the school security guard forgot to lock the door and cover the tank when pumping water.

Cam Trung Kindergarten. Photo: TL

The Department of Education and Training informed that the water source at Cam Trung Kindergarten is contaminated with alum, so to ensure the safety of students, the school has built a water tank and installed a water filtration system.

Before the incident, the security guard had opened the water pump door. "Normally, the pool area would have a door and be locked carefully, but yesterday because the water pump was not finished, the security guard did not have time to lock it," Ms. Hoang said, adding that the incident had left the family and teachers at the kindergarten extremely shocked.

"When the principal discovered the incident, he called me and cried. For now, theeducation department and the school are directly assisting the family in arranging the child's funeral. Everything must wait for the police to investigate and conclude," said Ms. Hoang.

According to information from the Department of Education and Training of Cam Xuyen district, PBD is a student in class 4A, taught by teachers Pham Thi Thuy and Nguyen Thi Hao. Class 4A has 25 students, including PBD who is slow to speak, slow to think, and has hyperactivity. Previously, PBD often ran out of the classroom.

At around 8am on April 25, D. ran out of the classroom. At that time, Ms. Pham Thi Thuy was teaching in the classroom, while Ms. Nguyen Thi Hao ran after D. to the school yard to keep watch.

"Camera footage shows that D. ran very fast. The teacher chased after him many times but couldn't catch up. After that, D. played in the school yard. Ms. Hao stood next to him to watch D. However, a few minutes later, Ms. Hao went to the restroom and when she came back, D. was nowhere to be found, so she and the school searched for him. After searching around the school area without success, the teacher contacted his home but still couldn't find him, and then reported to the police," informed the Head of the Department of Education and Training of Cam Xuyen district.

The water tank area where the incident occurred. Photo: TL

At around 9am the same day, the police force entered Cam Trung Kindergarten to coordinate the search for the child. "When entering the school, the police asked the teachers 'Is there a water tank here?'. Only then did the teachers remember that there was a water tank behind the school. The police force quickly went to the tank area and discovered Bao D. dead in the tank," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Hoang.

The outside of the water tank is protected by a steel door. Photo: TL

When asked why the teacher did not bring D. back to class after discovering her child running out into the schoolyard, the Head of the Department of Education and Training of Cam Xuyen district said that D. was hyperactive and ran out of the classroom every day.

"If we lock the door and leave D. in the classroom, he will disturb his friends and affect the other children. At first, I thought it was the teacher's carelessness and forgetting to pay attention, which caused the incident. However, when I extracted the camera footage, I saw that the teachers also had a hard time keeping an eye on D every day," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Hoang.

The water tank where D. fell and died. Photo: TL

The head of the Department of Education and Training of Cam Xuyen district also said that the unit has proposed many times to the Department of Education and Training to open a specialized center for children with diseases such as hyperactivity, but there is currently no facility. "If we do not accept children with diseases into the school, it will be considered discrimination, but accepting them will affect the remaining children and the teachers will also have a hard time...", Ms. Hoang added.

Ms. Hoang Thi Ly, Principal of Cam Trung Kindergarten, said that the school is supporting the family in taking care of D's funeral. "The incident left the teachers extremely shocked and heartbroken. D. has a special situation when she is sick, her parents are divorced. D. lives with her grandmother," Ms. Ly said.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/phong-giao-duc-len-tieng-vu-be-trai-tu-vong-trong-be-chua-nuoc-o-truong-mam-non-2395358.html