Parents upset over school's lack of urgency in informing them of kids falling ill on Batam trip

Parents whose children experienced vomiting and diarrhoea during a school trip to Batam, were upset they were not immediately informed by Canadian International School.

Ms Chen (not her real name), who's in her 40s, shared that her 11-year-old son was part of the school's overseas programme to Batam from Feb 11 to 14, which cost $1,100.

She told Shin Min Daily News that the students were not allowed to take their gadgets with them, so there was no contact.

Ms Chen claimed that it was only on the third day of the trip that the school informed the parents that some students had been unwell.

An e-mail from the school stated that 15 pupils and two teachers were affected. They were attended to by medical personnel and the organisers decided to continue the trip.

However, Ms Chen noted that there were only one or two nurses with the group.

"My son said the nurses only applied medicated oil on them and gave them electrolyte drinks," she said.

"No medication was given and no doctors were called to examine them."

Ms Chen's son developed a fever the night he returned to Singapore, prompting the family to take him to the doctor. He was believed to have had food poisoning.

Her son later told her that he had vomited at least three times during the trip.

"He said some classmates had headaches and nausea on the first day," added Ms Chen.

"By the second day, the pupils were vomiting and having diarrhoea.

"On the third day, some were so sick they could only lay their heads on the table. But the school refused to let them contact their parents."

Shin Min Daily News understands that another student also started vomiting on the second day of the trip but was not allowed to return home early.

Ms Chen claimed the school did not seek proper medical assistance to handle the situation, which could have led to inadequate and unregulated care.

Some parents claimed that as of last weekend, the school had yet to provide them with a full explanation of what happened.

But another parent revealed that on Feb 18, the school sent an e-mail stating that it would provide a detailed explanation within five working days.

Ms Chen shared that some parents had e-mailed the school to question the safety of the food provided during the trip and ask for a thorough investigation to be carried out. They also wanted the school to reimburse medical expenses for the affected students.

Some parents suspected that the illness could have been caused by contaminated drinking water at the hotel and were upset that unwell students were not isolated.

Ms Chen heard from her son that pupils initially drank water from the hotel's water dispensers, which did not seem clean. It was only later that teachers started providing bottled water.

"The kids were sharing rooms in pairs or trios. Even after some fell sick, they continued to stay and eat together without proper isolation," said Ms Chen.

"Had this been something infectious, the consequences could have been severe."

Another pupil felt ill after eating a chicken sandwich.

The school told Shin Min Daily News that as part of its educational experience, it provides students with off-campus and overseas learning opportunities.

"Unfortunately, during the trip to Batam, several pupils and teachers developed gastroenteritis. They have since returned home safely."

The school emphasised that it followed all recommendations and guidance from global medical service provider International SOS and had medical personnel present throughout the trip.

"The safety and well-being of our pupils and staff remain our top priority."