Temasek Junior College student dies during PE lesson
[UPDATE on Friday, 17 January, 11:54am: Added response from the Ministry of Education]
A 12-year-old male student from Temasek Junior College reportedly died on Wednesday morning during a Physical Education (PE) lesson following an asthma attack.
According to local media reports, a relative said that the boy collapsed when he was getting ready to do warm-up exercises before going for a run.
The boy also reportedly told his PE teacher that he was feeling unwell just before the collapse.
He was under the Integrated Programme, a scheme that allows high-performing students in secondary schools to skip the O-level and be admitted directly to junior colleges.
Police said the boy was pronounced dead in Changi General Hospital. They have classified the case as an unnatural death and investigations are ongoing.
This is the second death of a student this week. On Monday, a 16-year-old Tanglin Secondary School student died after jogging during a PE lesson.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) offers their deepest condolences to the families of the two students who have died and are working closely with the authorities on the investigations.
"The well-being of our students are first and foremost in the conduct of PE lessons. Schools follow a set of good practices to ensure the safety of students during PE lessons. Before the start of a PE lesson, students who are feeling unwell are allowed to sit out for the activities. Schools also take protection measures such as ensuring students are well hydrated and providing short rest breaks during long activities," they said.
