Parents of teenager who died during 2024 Maldives school trip sue SJI International

The family alleges SJII failed to assess the safety of the destination adequately, properly vet MWSRP as a provider for schoolchildren, ensure suitable supervision during the excursion and verify that marine activities were conducted under safe conditions.

They also allege that the school gave parents repeated assurances about safety, including that it had “all emergency procedures in place” to address “every single scenario that can happen”.

The family further alleges that SJII withheld information after Jenna’s death, refusing to allow the parents to meet the two accompanying teachers or to provide them with the school’s investigation findings despite repeated requests. 

According to the statement of claim, no investigation report has been shared with the family.

The claim argues that because Jenna was participating in a compulsory school activity while under SJII’s custody and care, the school owed her a non-delegable duty of care that could not be delegated to a third-party provider.

According to the statement of claim, the school’s solicitors, Rajah & Tann Singapore, wrote in a letter dated Nov 21, 2025, that SJII did not owe Jenna a “positive non-delegable duty of care to protect and safeguard her from the risk of harm”. 

The letter also said the school had engaged MWSRP as an independent contractor and was “not liable for all negligent acts and/or omissions of the MWSRP, its agents or servants or contractors”.

CNA has reached out to SJII for comment.