NANYANG INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT (Revocation of SQC-PEO)

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NANYANG INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT:

(Revocation of SQC-PEO): 20.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what are the reasons for the Government's decision to revoke the Singapore Quality Class for Private Education Organisations (SQC-PEO) status given to the Nanyang Institute of Management; and (b) what is the current status of the foreign students who lodged complaints against the Institute.

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Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government is committed to develop Singapore into a thriving education hub. In response to industry feedback, SPRING Singapore introduced the Singapore Quality Class for Private Education Organisations (SQC-PEO) scheme as a trust mark to identify quality education providers. The trust mark would help students distinguish the good schools and make more informed choices. Participation in the scheme by the PEOs is voluntary. For this trust mark to be credible, we need to enforce strict standards and allow only institutions which fully satisfy the requirements to carry the mark.

The Nanyang Institute of Management (NIM) was awarded the SQC-PEO certification in July 2003. However, since then, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has received 22 complaints from 30 foreign students against NIM. NIM is alleged to have forged students' signatures on student pass applications, made students sign on blank forms, and enter false information to enable students to come here for courses not approved by the relevant authorities. NIM was also alleged to have charged students for items like school uniforms which are not needed, and guardianship fee when no guardian was made available to the student.

In view of these complaints, SPRING conducted two audits on NIM. The first audit, conducted in October 2003, recommended that NIM address several shortfalls. NIM was also informed that a second audit would be conducted in three months' time to check on their implementation. During these three months, more complaints were received from students.

The second audit was conducted in February 2004. NIM was found to have

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breached the mandatory pre-qualification requirements which all PEOs applying for SQC-PEO certification must meet on an on-going basis. NIM, as with all organisations applying for the SQC-PEO certification, had made a declaration in its application that it had met all such requirements. In view of this, SPRING decided to withdraw NIM's SQC-PEO status with effect from 15th April 2004. Contrary to what Mr Alan Lau, CEO of NIM said to the media, SPRING had communicated the reasons for the revocation in writing to NIM through the second audit report on 31st March 2004.

Sir, I am unable to go into the details of the breaches because SPRING is bound by a confidentiality obligation with SQC-PEO organisations with regard to their application for SQC-PEO certification. However, if NIM agrees to release SPRING from this obligation, we would make public the breaches that led to the revocation.

Of the 30 students who have lodged complaints with STB, 14 have transferred to other institutions in Singapore. Twelve are still continuing their studies with NIM. The remaining four have either returned home or have left to pursue their studies elsewhere in the world.

Many of the students and guardians who have approached STB have been counselled and given advice regarding the options available to them to seek redress. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the STB has also sought the help of other Government agencies, or negotiated with NIM for a suitable solution. The more serious complaints of forgery of signatures are being investigated by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and appropriate action would be taken based on the outcome.