Singapore Private Education System

The Enhanced Registration Framework (ERF) spells out the registration requirements and legal obligations which all PEIs, operating in or from Singapore, must meet. Through the ERF, the CPE aims to ensure that such schools meet the strengthened requirements in the areas of corporate governance, provision of quality services, student protection and information transparency in order to protect the interests of all their enrolled students.

As part of regulatory efforts stipulated by the Private Education Act 2009, it is mandatory for all PEIs to be registered with the CPE under the Enhanced Registration Framework (ERF). All private schools need to register with CPE and comply with the Enhanced Regulation Framework (ERF), which ensures that they are of a certain standard in order to protect the interests of their students.

The EduTrust Certification Scheme (EduTrust) is a quality assurance scheme administered by CPE for PEIs in Singapore. It aims to distinguish private schools that are able to consistently maintain a high standard of quality in the overall provision of education services and make continual improvements that lead to positive student outcomes.

The EduTrust assesses PEIs against seven criteria which cover;

1. Management commitment and responsibilities;
2. Corporate governance and administration;
3. External recruitment agents;
4. Student protection and support services;
5. Academic processes and student assessment;
6. Achievement of student and graduate outcomes, and
7. Quality assurance, monitoring and results.

CPE also administers the EduTrust certification scheme which is of higher standards than the ERF. All private schools wishing to enrol international students need to be EduTrust certified. The emphasis of EduTrust is on Student Protection and Academic Quality and as a mark of having achieved a higher and more comprehensive standard in their corporate governance, financial viability, administration, and student-related services and processes. Under the Private Education Act 2009, only PEIs that are EduTrust certified will be able to enrol International Students requiring a Student Pass from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore.

There are seven criteria under the EduTrust Certification Scheme. Each criterion has a set of sub-criteria and items, with statements specifying the requirements of each item.

1. Management Commitment and Responsibilities

This criterion examines how the PEI demonstrates a commitment to achieving its vision and how it conducts strategic planning.

2. Corporate Governance and Administration
This criterion examines how the PEI’s efficiency and effectiveness in the management of administrative operations and resources, external partnerships, corporate governance, communication processes, management and confidentiality of information, and feedback and complaints in order to improve services provided.

3. External Recruitment Agents
This criterion examines how the PEI selects, manages, and evaluates its local and overseas external recruitment agents effectively. This is to ensure that the agents deliver quality services to prospective students and that they do not engage in any misrepresentation and unethical practices.

4. Student Protection and Support Services
This criterion examines processes relating to student protection via the Fee Protection Scheme, student contract and refund, course transfer, withdrawal and deferment policies. It also examines how the PEI plans its student support services to enhance student well-being in support of holistic education.

5. Academic Processes and Student Assessment
This criterion examines how the PEI sets up processes to ensure that the courses offered to meet the needs and expectations of the student and industry. It examines how the PEI selects and admits qualified students into its courses, the use of assessment to measure the achievement of the student learning outcomes and how the PEI manages and monitors academic staff’s lesson delivery and students’ learning.

6. Achievement of Student and Graduate Outcomes
This criterion examines the PEI sets up processes to measure and track student and graduate outcomes including academic performance, progression and employability of graduates (if applicable). It further examines how the PEI benchmarks student and graduate outcomes against comparable institutions and/or national or international standards and use this to improve and achieve positive outcomes. The performance of the PEI’s graduates in the Graduate Employment Survey (GES), if applicable, is also examined.

7. Quality Assurance, Monitoring and Results
This criterion examines the PEI’s quality assurance requirements in establishing a system of regular monitoring, review and continual improvements to ensure that the systems and processes are effectively managed.

To view the EduTrust Certification Scheme criteria in detail, please refer to the EduTrust Guidance Document.