Singapore values human capital as its most precious asset. Education is held in high regard for its role in social mobility and prestige. The well-regulated public and private education sectors, along with social stability, bolster the education industry, attracting operators to establish academic and skills training schools. Moreover, recent government initiatives, such as lifelong learning for seniors, workforce reskilling, and improved preschool education accessibility, further enhance opportunities in various education sectors.

Private education schools in Singapore must register with ACRA before obtaining licenses. These schools are classified into four categories.

Licensed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) under the Child Care Centres Act (Cap. 37A) and Regulations, these centres care for and supervise more than 5 children aged 7 and above at any one time.

Also supervised by ECDA, these institutions consist of nursery, kindergarten 1, and kindergarten 2, providing a structured 3-year pre-primary education for children aged 3 – 6.

Registered with both the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Council for Private Education (CPE), these schools offer formal education and structured courses that lead to certificates, diplomas, or degrees.

These schools do not have to be registered with any regulatory authority other than ACRA to offer courses. They provide practical and hands-on training in different skills such as cooking, dance, hairdressing, and sports.

To protect the interests of students and Singapore’s reputation as a global education hub, several government-affiliated agencies strictly enforce the obligations and requirements of private schools.

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) appointed the Committee for Private Education (CPE) under the Private Education Act to regulate Singapore’s private education sector. This ensures the upkeep and improvement of its quality. When you start a Private Education Institutions (PEIs) offering full-time programmes leading to a degree, diploma, certification, or external examination, it is a must to register with CPE under the Enhanced Registration Framework.

Introduced by the Ministry of Education, EduTrust is a quality certification scheme in Singapore aimed at further strengthening the regulation of the private education sector. Based on their various strengths and weaknesses, PEIs earn awards of 1 or 4 years. The 4-year EduTrust Star is the ultimate mark of recognition for a school excelling in all key areas of management and the provision of quality education services. This rating system allows students, parents, and other stakeholders to evaluate a private institution’s performance.

An SQC certification recognizes a school’s high level of performance in education and business excellence, placing it among other national organizations that have attained such excellence. Key attributes evaluated in the framework include leadership, strategic planning, administrative efficiency, and staff and student welfare and development.