Public Consultation on Revised Pre Requisites for EduTrust

Council for Private Education - CPE

Consultation Period: 23 Nov 2011 - 07 Dec 2021

Status: Closed

Summary

Public consultation relating to eligibility to apply for EduTrust Certification.

Detailed Description

Aim of Consultation

The Council for Private Education (CPE) is seeking feedback from members of the public and private education institutions (PEIs) on the proposed revised pre-requisites for EduTrust Certification.

Background

The EduTrust Certification Scheme is a voluntary quality assurance framework that aims to differentiate PEIs that demonstrate higher quality in the areas of corporate governance and academic processes. It also requires PEIs to meet higher standards in the protection of students’ fees and financial sustainability.

After reviewing the existing EduTrust certification requirements at the end of the 18-month transition period for PEIs (from 21 December 2009 to 20 June 2011) and receiving feedback from the industry, the CPE noted that the existing prerequisites could be revised to ease the administrative burden on PEIs while maintaining a sound level of student protection.

Proposed Revision

The proposed revised pre-requisites for EduTrust Certification aim to reduce the risk to students as a result of sudden PEI closures, and/or under-protection of the actual fees paid by students. The CPE is also mindful that a more rigorous quality assurance framework should not significantly increase the administrative and financial burden on genuine PEIs. Therefore, the proposed revised pre-requisites have attempted to balance the costs and benefits to both students and PEIs.

The CPE would like to seek public feedback on the proposed revisions to the pre-requisites for EduTrust certification, namely:
a. Higher credit rating requirement; and
b. Mandatory subscription to a contingency insurance coverage on top of the current fee protection scheme.

The details of the revised pre-requisites can be found in the document attached.

Period of Consultation

The CPE invites members of the public and PEIs to participate in this consultation. The consultation exercise will last for two weeks, from 23 November 2011 to 7 December 2011.

Feedback Channels

To enable us to better understand your feedback or comments, we seek your cooperation to observe the following when providing inputs:
- Identify yourself and the organisation you represent (if any), so that we may follow up to clarify any issues, if necessary;
- Make your comments clear and concise;
- Focus your comments on how the revised pre-requisites could be improved or made clearer; and
- As much as possible, explain your points with illustrations and examples.

Your feedback or comments may be sent to us through a few channels:-
- By e-mail to CPE_public_consult@cpe.gov.sg·
- By fax to 6275 4636 or
- By post to: Council for Private Education
2 Bukit Merah Central
#01-05
SPRING Singapore Building
Singapore 159835
(Please indicate “Feedback on Revised Pre-Requisites for EduTrust Certification” on the envelope.)

We would like to encourage you to send the feedback or comments by e-mail as they will reach us faster and thus expedite the process of consideration. All submissions should be made on or before 5 PM, 7 December 2011.

Summary of Responses

We regret that we will not be able to address or acknowledge every feedback or comment received. However, the feedback or comments will be consolidated and a summary of the key comments received will be published, together with the CPE’s responses, on the CPE website after the close of the consultation exercise. The summary will not disclose the identity of person(s) or organisation(s) providing the feedback or comments.

Public Consultation on EduTrust Pre-Requisites [PDF, 35 KB]

Credit Rating Classification (Table 1) [PDF, 14 KB]

Summary of Responses (Table 2) [PDF, 32 KB]