College manager pleads guilty to breaching Private Education Act

[Battle Mech]

College manager pleads guilty to breaching Private Education Act

Posted: 27 November 2012 1742 hrs

SINGAPORE: The manager of a local private college has pleaded guilty to breaching regulations for private education.

Duclos Hazel Margaret of Process College admitted that she failed to ensure that the college refunded students and keep proper records of their contracts.

Process College had collected course fees of about S$190,000 between January and April 2010 from 30 students who had enrolled in the Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Hotel Management programmes.

In late 2010, the Council for Private Education (CPE), which is a statutory board regulating the private education industry, acted on complaints from students.

It directed Process College to refund the course fees to students as these courses were not conducted.

The CPE was informed by the students through their representative that an agreement had been reached between Duclos and the 30 students to refund the fees in instalments.

However, the instalment payments were not made.

The CPE filed charges against Duclos in June this year.

Under the Private Education Act, the manager of a registered private education institution must ensure that proper records of students and course administration are kept and updated.

Duclos, 64, will be sentenced on December 27 for the two charges.

A third charge of failing to obtain permission from the CPE before relocating will be taken into consideration during sentencing.

Under the law, the punishment for each of the three offences is a fine of up to S$10,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.

- CNA/lp

 

[Darth Sidious]

Process College manager jailed for contravening Private Education Act
Posted: 27 December 2012 1818 hrs

SINGAPORE: A manager of a private college was sentenced to four weeks' jail for contravening the Private Education Act.

Duclos Hazel Margaret from Process College Pte Ltd was also fined $5,000, or in default two weeks' jail.

The Council for Private Education (CPE) said this is its first prosecution case that has led to a jail sentence.

It said Duclos had failed to keep proper records of student contracts.

She also failed to comply with an order by the Council to refund students.

CPE's Chief Executive Officer Henry Heng said the court's decision sends a strong signal that the welfare of students will be protected at all costs against errant private education institutions and its managers.

- CNA/de

 

[Darth Sidious]

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