Dispute Resolution

Resolving issues with private schools

You may approach us for advice should you encounter problems with your private school and the school is unable to resolve the issue. We will investigate into issues that may have contravened the  Private Education (PE) Act  and/or its Regulations and take action where appropriate. 

Available resolution channels

For issues that do not contravene the PE Act and/or its Regulations such as school administrative matters and service quality issues, please contact the school. If you are not satisfied with the outcome from the school, you may seek redress via: 

the Private Education Mediation-Arbitration Scheme; or 

the Small Claims Tribunals  (SCT), for clear-cut fee refund issues of equivalent or less than S$20,000#; or 

your own legal counsel. 

#For amounts that exceed SGD$20,000 but is below SGD$30,000, the claim can still proceed with SCT if both parties consent to it in writing. 

Private Education Mediation-Arbitration Scheme

The Private Education Mediation-Arbitration Scheme was set up to help students who encounter contractual disputes with their private school to seek redress. The two-stage Scheme is jointly drawn up with the Singapore Mediation Centre  (SMC) and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators  (SIArb). A private school's participation in the dispute resolution process is compulsory as stipulated by the PE Act. For the case to be eligible:  

It must be relevant to private education and arise after the Dispute Resolution Schemes Regulations came into operation on 10 May 2010; 

It must not be criminal in nature; and 

It must not have received a judicial decision in the courts. 

You may refer to the terms of reference  for the Private Education Dispute Resolution Scheme.