A new statutory board and more regulation for private education 
With a private school in the news every few months for unwelcome developments ranging from premature closure to fake degrees, this sector has been faced with the uphill task of salvaging its reputation among students seeking alternative pathways to education.  With the setting up of the Council for Private Education as a statutory board on 1 December last year, this imposes more regulation in the private education sector to thwart shady practices among errant players. Private universities, commercial schools and international schools which have already registered under the current Education Act will have 18 months to sign up with the new statutory Board, while all other schools must sign up by February 20 this year if they want to continue operations.

Schools will only be allowed to register if they show evidence of proper systems in place for both academic and administrative matters. Improved safeguards to protect students’ fees means that they will need to provide insurance for both local and foreign students, and will now only have two options – to limit their collection of school fees to two months only, or purchase fee protection insurance which will allow them to collect up to six months of fees. Schools will also need to show that they have independent academic and examination boards to develop and review curricula, testing and other academic policies. In addition, a student services centre will also be set up within the next few months to enable students to find out more about private education and/or lodge complaints against errant schools.

Food for thought:
The tightened regulations will help assuage the worries of parents concerned about  fly-by-night operators or bogus degrees after years of hard work. This will hopefully increase competition and professionalism within the sector, but may also result in higher fees if schools pass on some of the increased administrative costs to their students.

What are your thoughts on these new developments? Do share with us.

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