Private school ordered closed could face further action
The Council for Private Education said the probe is unlikely to affect its decision to deregister the school. PHOTO: WEE TECK HIAN
SINGAPORE — Investigations into Kings International Business School (KIBS) are still being carried out, and could lead to further action against the school, said the Council for Private Education (CPE), a day after the school was ordered to close for awarding some of its students diplomas without requiring attendance.
In response to TODAY’s queries, CPE said KIBS still faces ongoing investigations on “other issues related to the case”.
However, the outcome is unlikely to affect the decision to cancel its registration, said a CPE spokesperson.
On Monday, the CPE announced that KIBS’ registration was being cancelled and the school had been ordered to cease offering and conducting courses.
The school was found to have issued diplomas to some students pursuing its Maritime Studies course without class attendance or assessment requirements. It also ordered KIBS to place its students in other schools to complete their studies, or refund their school fees by May 5.
KIBS has denied the allegations, but the CPE has maintained its stand and says there is sufficient evidence to warrant the school’s deregistration.
“KIBS has been given the opportunity to show cause and, on considering the explanations provided, CPE has determined that KIBS has not complied with the Private Education Act, and engaged in activities not in the interest of the public and its students,” said a CPE spokesperson.
The school can submit an appeal against the decision to the CPE Appeals Board within 14 days.
Since the CPE was set up in 2009, only four schools, excluding KIBS, have had their registrations revoked for violating the Private Education Act.
Most of the 113 deregistered private education institutions had deregistered after they were unable to continue operations.
Last evening, KIBS students gathered at the school’s premises in Bukit Merah to listen to the school’s explanation and also to express their concerns over the sudden turn of events.
The school also requested that the students lend their signatures to an appeal letter that vouches for KIBS’ efforts in ensuring that students attend both their classes and examinations.
Students who spoke to TODAY under the condition of anonymity said they were willing to wait, for now, for the school to appeal.
Mr Jay, 26, a marine surveyor in the petrochemical industry, said the school had made sure that he took a make-up lesson for each class he missed due to work commitments.
Mr Yip, a 25-year-old technician, said news of the school’s deregistration would cost him a promotion to assistant engineer.
“I was going to be promoted after I graduate but this isn’t going to happen now,” said the business management student.
