Last year, hundreds of students were left stranded when Brookes Business School abruptly shut down. This is just one of the high-profile scandals to hit the private education sector. Now, private candidates have more help as the Council for Private Education has set up a student services centre to provide better consumer information and student support. It will also take over from the Consumers Association of Singapore to manage disputes between students and private schools. Dr Chin Kon Yuen of TMC Academy said being a neutral party, the centre will be “fair” to both student and school in handling disputes. Students can lodge complaints, and if necessary, the centre will facilitate mediation.
Under new rules, all private schools have to provide information about their courses, fee structure and teaching staff. And the centre will be one avenue through which this information will be made available.
And if a private school shuts down unexpectedly, students will be updated on fee refunds and course transfers through the centre.
Under the new rules, schools have to register with the private education council. So far, 283 have done so. Another 105 have applied for the certification scheme known as EduTrust.