6-9-2023 (SINGAPORE) A tragic incident occurred during an unchaperoned school trip to Cambodia, resulting in the death of a United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA) Dover Road student. The 17-year-old student, Kaira Karmakar, was involved in a road accident while on the trip with a group of classmates. The school had initially announced plans to conduct an external investigation into the matter, but parents have expressed frustration at the lack of updates.
According to The Straits Times (ST), Kaira Karmakar was part of a school trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia when the accident took place. The students were without teachers or adult supervision at the time, although the exact number of students in the group has not been confirmed by the school.
UWCSEA was informed of the incident at 3:07 am on 1 June, and the head of the Dover campus, Patrick Hurworth, sent an email to parents on the same day to inform them of the tragedy. In the email, the school clarified that the trip was part of a project week option for grade 11 students, aimed at preparing them for independent life after graduation.
Head of college Nick Alchin explained that students spend up to six months planning these trips in small groups of four to six. While a teacher supervises the planning process, they do not accompany the students on the trip itself. One student in each group receives mandatory first-aid training, and students are provided with a 24-hour hotline and a list of nearby hospitals and local contacts.
Alchin also stated that the school intends to conduct an external investigation into the accident and the project week. The final report will be submitted to the audit and risk committee of the school’s board of governors, which is responsible for reviewing school processes.
However, one parent has voiced concerns about the lack of updates since the initial email. They feel that the school expects the incident to be forgotten during the summer holidays. The parent questioned why an unchaperoned overseas trip was allowed, considering the potential risks involved. They believed that the school’s justification of fostering independence was inadequate, as teenagers are prone to testing boundaries.
A former classmate of Kaira, referred to as “Z,” mentioned that the trip was often treated as a holiday with no adult supervision. While the school warned students about the consequences of irresponsible behavior, ultimately, it was up to the students to make decisions. Z disagreed with the idea of future trips having chaperones, as it would change the essence and purpose of such experiences.
UWCSEA has chosen not to address inquiries regarding the tragedy or the review of the project week. However, they have paid tribute to Kaira, naming a scholarship in her honor and setting up an endowment fund, in collaboration with her family, to support UWCSEA scholarships and other initiatives.
