Family of S'porean teen who died on Maldives school trip suing SJI International for alleged negligence

The family of the late St. Joseph's Institution (SJI) International student, who died during a 2024 snorkelling trip while on an overseas expedition to the Maldives, will be suing SJII for alleged negligence over her death.

Jenna Chan was 15 at the time and would have turned 17 today.

On Jul. 20, 2026, her family filed a negligence claim in the General Division of the High Court of Singapore against SJII, according to a press release by their legal representatives.

'Claim is about accountability': Girl's mother

Calling this a "last resort", Jenna's parents said the claim comes after "more than 20 months of seeking accountability through other channels".

"For over a year and a half we asked the school to work with us to find out what happened so this can never happen to another child," her mother, Jennifer Liauw, said.

She added: "Every door was closed. This claim is about accountability, and about making sure Jenna is the last."

The press release also stated that according to a November 2025 letter, the school's solicitors, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, reportedly asserted that the school did not owe Jenna a "positive non-delegable duty of care to protect and safeguard her from the risk of harm".

Noting that the school had engaged an independent contractor, the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP), to run the expedition, the letter reportedly added that the school was "not liable for all negligent acts and/or omissions of the MWSRP, its agents or servants or contractors".

2024 excursion

On Nov. 8, 2024, Jenna, who was participating in a whale shark research project, was hit by a running boat's propeller while diving into the sea on a snorkelling trip.

She was rushed to a local health centre but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

According to the press release, this was part of an expedition run by the MWSRP, a charity registered in the United Kingdom and engaged by SJII.

The expedition, which formed part of the school's Outdoor Education programme, is compulsory for Grade 9 students and a requirement for promotion to the next academic year.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Education had previously told Mothership that it would not be investigating the management of SJII.

"Privately-funded schools, including SJII, are private schools set up to cater to international students and Singaporean students who prefer an alternative schooling option," the spokesperson said.

"These schools are outside the mainstream school system and have autonomy over their operations, policies and governance."

Alleged failings

The Statement of Claim alleged that SJII failed to properly vet the Maldives as a destination despite a documented pattern of marine tourism fatalities in the same waters, including a fatal propeller incident in the year before Jenna's death.

It also claimed that the school failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that MWSRP was a suitable and qualified vendor to run excursions for school children.

In addition, it alleged that SJII "failed to take reasonable steps" to ensure that the place where the marine activities would be conducted was safe for a school outdoor education programme, or to check tidal conditions and current strengths before involving the students in marine activities.

It also claimed that SJII gave parents and students repeated safety assurances which "were not borne out", including the school allegedly having "all emergency procedures in place" for "every single scenario that can happen".

Lastly, it alleged that SJII failed to ensure adequate supervision of its students at the critical moment.

The Statement of Claim argued that since Jenna was a child placed in the school's custody on a compulsory school trip, SJII owed her a non-delegable duty of care that could not be outsourced to a third party.

It added that in the months following Jenna’s death, SJII allegedly cited ongoing investigations and refused to share information with Jenna's parents or allow them to meet with the SJII teachers who accompanied the students on the expedition.

It further alleged that no investigation report or findings has been shared by SJII with Jenna's parents to date.

The family is also calling on the Singapore Government to review the alleged oversight of privately-funded schools, the release stated.