Parents in Taiwan are demanding answers and justice after allegations surfaced that teachers at a private kindergarten in New Taipei City drugged their students. The incident has raised alarm and concerns among parents across the island, NBC news reports.
The local Education Department stated that blood tests conducted on several children revealed traces of sedatives, including phenobarbital and benzodiazepines. At least eight children were found to have these substances in their systems, prompting a criminal investigation by the police. The investigation was initiated following complaints from parents who noticed unusual behavior in their children.
Angela Wang, the head of the Taiwan Children's Rights NGO, received videos from parents showing their children appearing irritable and physically aggressive. Some of the children reported being given a "stinky and bitter" juice by their teachers. Wang also noted that some children claimed they were punished if they refused to consume the juice, adding that physical abuse and confinement to toilets were reported as well.
Local media reports indicate that staff members at the kindergarten have been questioned, but the school has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
Parents and concerned individuals staged a demonstration outside government offices, demanding swift action and transparency. The protesters urged officials to share their findings promptly to alleviate fears and address the situation appropriately. New Taipei City Councilor Chen Nai-yu highlighted the distress of parents who were seeking explanations from the government and struggling to cope with their panic.
“Parents are afraid and very worried. They don’t know what to do, and they have to deal with their panic by themselves. Even if no traces were detected in some children, their parents are still desperate to know what exactly happened,” she said
In response to the incident, the Education Department has revoked the kindergarten's license, which is affiliated with the Kid Castle Educational Institute. The directors have been fined $4,855. The department expressed sadness over the case and urged cooperation with the ongoing judicial investigation to uncover the truth.
“We are very saddened by this social justice case in this private kindergarten, which has caused concerns from the public. Please face up to the positive actions the government has taken. We hope all walks of life would cooperate with the judicial investigation to uncover the truth as soon as possible,” the Education Department stated.
Meanwhile, Taipei City Hospital has taken steps to address the concerns by providing free drug tests for children. This initiative aims to ease the anxieties of parents who are worried about the well-being of their children.
Another similar incident was reported at the other end of Taiwan, in the southern city of Kaohsiung, where the city health department discovered four doctors who had improperly administered drugs containing phenobarbital to children.
Phenobarbital is a regulated substance in Taiwan, available only with a doctor's prescription and commonly used to treat epilepsy and seizures. According to the National Institutes of Health, benzodiazepines, which include well-known trade names such as Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin, can be habit-forming and are primarily prescribed for anxiety-related conditions.
Child neurologist Tsai Wen-hsin, registered with the Taiwan Child Neurology Society, emphasized that unless a child has epilepsy or a related condition, the presence of phenobarbital in their system should not be possible.
The accusations of drugging children have sparked deep concerns in Taiwan, prompting authorities to take swift action and investigate the matter thoroughly. The affected parents, along with the broader public, are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the investigations and seeking reassurance about their children's safety.
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