Student injuries and negligence: lessons from the international scene with implications for Singapore's educators

Abstract

Many jurisdictions are showing a trend of school-related negligence cases being taken to court. This article explores the legal principles applied by the courts in England, Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand to ensure the safety of students in schools. As we look at the developments in these countries, we can see student injury issues that appear all too familiar in Singapore. How other jurisdictions are handling these episodes may provide useful pointers for Singapore's school administrators. The article concludes with the first reported case in Singapore of an allegation of negligence by a school resulting in personal injury, and it offers some helpful hints for averting legal risks