Going Private? 10 Things to look out for in Private Schools

Learning — By 88DB Knowledge on November 21, 2011 11:20 am

Intending to attend a private school? Your education is the key to your future.

With more than 1,000 private schools out there, it’s important for you to select the right one!

Here’s a list of 10 things that will help you choose the right school

1. Ensure that the school is registered with the Council for Private Education (CPE)

Check that your school is registered with the CPE.

Established under the Private Education Act, the CPE is entrusted with the legislative power to regulate the private education sector.

To be registered with the CPE, the private school must meet the basic requirements in corporate governance, quality of provision and information transparency.

2. Premises

We wouldn’t attend a school with a leaking roof. We’re sure you wouldn’t too.

The premises and facilities of a private school must be inspected and approved by the relevant authorities.

With the exception of lessons conducted in lecture halls, each student should have a classroom space of at least 1.5 square meters.

Make sure you have a comfortable environment to learn in.

3. Academic & Examination Boards

You want your education to be worthwhile.

To ensure the quality of the academic programs and examination processes, all private schools should have an Academic and Examination board that oversees and endorses each aspect of the educational system.

4. Information Disclosure

Know what you’re getting yourself into.

All private schools in Singapore are required to disclose accurate information about themselves and the courses they offer.

It’s an offence for private schools to make false claims or intentionally mislead students in their advertisements.

5. Courses & Teachers

Are your teachers qualified to teach you?

Private schools are only allowed to offer courses which have been permitted by the CPE.

(except for certificate level courses which are shorter than 1 month or 50 hours in duration.)

Schools must also ensure that suitable teachers are deployed to teach the modules or subjects for the courses.

These teachers must meet at least the baseline requirements in terms of academic qualifications and related experience as specified by the CPE.

Schools must also ensure that the qualifications of the teachers are conferred by the education institutions which are recognized by the relevant authority in the country or territory in which they are established and that the qualifications have not been conferred as honorary degrees.

6. Certificates Issued by Private Schools

Will your certificate be worth it?

As Singapore does not have a central authority that accords recognition to certificates and/or qualifications obtained from private schools, recognition and acceptance of certificates for employment or further study are entirely at the discretion of the individual prospective employer or education institution.

Private schools may offer external degree programs through partnerships with bona fide foreign universities.

Only external degree programs permitted by the CPE are allowed to be conducted or offered in or from Singapore.

7. Selecting a Course at a Private School

Ask questions.

Asking a few important questions can help you determine whether a private school and the courses it offers are reliable, especially those that are offered online.

Can the diploma or degree from the private school be purchased or ordered?
If so, it might be a degree mill.
Does the private school claim accreditation when there is no evidence of this status?
What are the required hours of attendance?
Are there any academic assessments? How easy is it for students to earn credits?
Is the duration required to obtain a diploma or degree much shorter than the generally accepted standards in most public or accredited institutions?
Can the diplomas or degrees be obtained solely on experience or resume review?
Is the registered office of the private school identified only through a telephone number, an e-mail address or a mail box address?
Does the private school assert or highlight that accreditation is not needed when it is from a country where recognized or reputable institutions are accredited?

8. Fee Protection Scheme

Are you protected?

The Fee Protection Scheme is meant to protect the fees of students paid to private schools.

Private schools must subscribe to an insurance scheme approved by the CPE in order to collect more than 2 months of course fees at any one time.

9. Student Contract

Contracts are a must.

All private schools and their students must sign a contract for any course longer than 2 months in duration.

Before signing the contract, you should read through the Advisory Note to Students and ensure that the information included is accurate.

10. Responsibility of Students

You are responsible too.

As a student, you too must exercise caution when selecting a suitable private school and course to enroll in.

You must make the effort to understand your rights and obligations before entering an agreement which will be legally binding.

For a more comprehensive understanding of what to look out for when choosing a private school, you can go to: http://www.cpe.gov.sg/cos/o.x?c=/cpe/pagetree&func=view&rid=616

The Council for Private Education is responsible for investigating any private school for any contraventions of the statutory requirements, as well as any person or organization suspected of issuing fake degrees in or from Singapore.