A new challenge and opportunity for the private education sector (Singapore’s PEIs) comes in the form of new measures. With an aim to protect the students, this step will help make information more transparent.
What’s new?
Well, now for the private education institutions (PEIs) which offer degrees, it will be compulsory to take part in an annual graduate employment survey. This is run by the Committee of Private Education (CPE), which regulates private education.
Recently, CPE laid out five broad measures, which are listed below:
- In order to track their graduate employment outcomes, PEIs catering degree programmes need to take part in a yearly survey. And the survey results will be published on CPE’s website.
- A minimum paid-up capital of $100,000is necessary for the new PEIs. And for the existing PEIs, a minimum credit rating by June 2017 has to be met.
- Now onwards, only registered PEIs with CPE for a minimum span of four-year period will be able to apply for EduTrust certification.Till now there were no such restrictions.
- A minimum academic entry requirement has been set up for the fresh school-leavers. If a student tends to join any private academy and applies for a degree, he/she must have at least an International Baccalaureate diploma, an A-level certificate, or other equivalent pre-university qualification.
- For private schools offering courses including diplomas or degrees, they must first obtain a four-year EduTrust certification. Actually, it is a Quality Assurance Award. Hence, for both new and existing schools offering such programmes, it is mandatory. In case anyone wishes to apply for this, they can do so by June 2017.
As far as the new measures are concerned, these are aimed at providing additional safeguards for students enrolling with PEIs. While the committee has been a part of a statutory board falling under the Ministry of Education, the Skills Future Singapore, it was formerly known as the Council for Private Education.