Student care operators to pay one-month deposit under new safeguards from Dec 2026

The size of the deposit will be pegged to the centres’ enrolment.

Published Sep 30, 2026, 04:40 PM

Updated Sep 30, 2026, 04:40 PM

New student care operators in primary schools must pay a security deposit equal to one month's fees, pegged to the centres’ enrolment, from Dec 2026 to protect against financial risks and ensure contract compliance.

MOE will conduct regular financial checks on operators and can terminate contracts or arrange replacements if issues arise, aiming to maintain service continuity for students.

Operators must clearly state GIRO deduction purposes in contracts to prevent unauthorised charges; violators risk suspension or termination, with authorities reviewing payment safeguards.

SINGAPORE - Newly appointed student care operators in primary schools will have to pay a security deposit equivalent to one month’s fees, as part of new safeguards introduced by the Education Ministry (MOE).

This measure, which will be gradually implemented from Dec 2026 when existing contracts expire, follows the contract termination of Little Professors Learning Centre (LPLC) in February 2026, which affected 1,800 children in eight primary schools.

The ministry will be able to draw on the deposit in the event the operator does not fulfil its contractual obligations, said an MOE spokesperson, in response to queries from The Straits Times. “It may be used to mitigate financial losses, including supporting affected families as appropriate.”

ST reported on Feb 14 that 54 employees had lodged reports over unpaid January salaries and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions since November 2025.

Several employees of Little Professors had previously told ST that they stopped working on Feb 10 after the company failed to pay their January salary, which was due on Feb 7.

Before four new operators were formally appointed to take over on April 6, staff from the affected primary schools had been helping to cover the after-school care. Affected parents did not have to pay for the services then.

Education Minister Desmond Lee said in a written parliamentary reply in Septembe r that the MOE has enhanced its measures for managing student care centres and Kindergarten Care operators.

He was responding to Yeo Wan Ling (Punggol GRC) who had asked about what changes have been made to the selection and monitoring of student care operators following the LPLC incident, and whether safeguards governing GIRO deductions by student care operators will be strengthened.

In addition to requiring security deposits, the ministry will conduct more regular checks on the operators’ financial health, to detect early signs of financial difficulties.

In response to queries from ST, MOE said if potential issues are detected, it will work out possible solutions with the operator, while prioritising service continuity for students and their families. In serious cases, MOE may terminate the contract and arrange for a replacement operator.

To better protect families against unauthorised GIRO deductions, like what some parents experienced when LPLC double-charged them for their children’s February student care fees, Lee said operators must now clearly specify the purposes for which GIRO deductions may be made in their contracts with parents.

“They will only be permitted to make deductions for those stated purposes. Operators who make unauthorised deductions may have their contracts suspended or terminated,” he said, adding that the Monetary Authority of Singapore is working with the Association of Banks in Singapore and member banks to review how safeguards for GIRO payments can be strengthened.

On the recourse for parents following the LPLC termination, Lee said parents have been advised to seek legal recourse through the Small Claims Tribunals and that police investigations are still ongoing.

Elisha Tushara is a correspondent at The Straits Times, specialising in Singapore’s education landscape.

Education and schools

Ministry of Education

押金金额将与中心的招生人数挂钩。

发布于2026年9月30日下午4:40

更新于2026年9月30日下午4:40

从 2026 年 12 月起，小学新开设的学生托管机构必须缴纳相当于一个月费用的保证金，保证金金额与中心的招生人数挂钩，以防止财务风险并确保合同履行。

教育部将定期对运营商进行财务检查，如果出现问题，可以终止合同或安排更换运营商，以保证学生服务的连续性。

运营商必须在合同中明确说明 GIRO 扣款用途，以防止未经授权的收费；违规者将面临暂停或终止服务的风险，当局也将审查支付保障措施。

新加坡——作为教育部推出的新保障措施之一，新任命的小学学生托管机构必须缴纳相当于一个月费用的保证金。

这项措施将从 2026 年 12 月现有合同到期后逐步实施。此前，小教授学习中心 (LPLC) 的合同于 2026 年 2 月终止，影响了八所小学的 1800 名儿童。

教育部发言人在回复《海峡时报》的询问时表示，如果运营商未能履行合同义务，教育部可以动用这笔押金。“押金可用于减轻经济损失，包括酌情为受影响的家庭提供支持。”

《海峡时报》2月14日报道称，54名员工已就1月份未支付的工资和自2025年11月以来的中央公积金（CPF）缴款提出申诉。

此前，Little Professors 的几名员工告诉《海峡时报》，由于公司未能支付他们 1 月份的工资（该工资应于 2 月 7 日支付），他们于 2 月 10 日停止工作。

在4月6日四家新的运营机构正式接管之前，受影响小学的教职工一直在协助提供课后托管服务。当时，受影响的家长无需支付相关费用。

教育部长李智陞在9月份的书面国会答复中表示，教育部已加强对学生托管中心和幼儿园托管机构的管理措施。

他是在回应杨婉玲（榜鹅集选区）的提问，杨婉玲询问在 LPLC 事件发生后，学生托管机构的选择和监管方面有哪些变化，以及是否会加强对学生托管机构 GIRO 扣款的监管措施。

除了要求缴纳保证金外，该部门还将更频繁地检查运营商的财务状况，以便及早发现财务困难的迹象。

针对《海峡时报》的询问，教育部表示，如果发现潜在问题，将与运营商协商可能的解决方案，同时优先保障学生及其家庭的服务连续性。在严重情况下，教育部可能会终止合同并安排新的运营商。

为了更好地保护家庭免受未经授权的 GIRO 扣款的影响，例如一些家长遇到的 LPLC 重复收取其子女二月份学生托管费的情况，Lee 表示，运营商现在必须在与家长的合同中明确规定 GIRO 扣款的用途。

“他们只能出于既定目的进行扣款。未经授权扣款的运营商可能会被暂停或终止合同，”他说道，并补充说，新加坡金融管理局正与新加坡银行协会及其成员银行合作，审查如何加强GIRO支付的保障措施。

关于 LPLC 终止后家长们的补救措施，李表示，已建议家长们通过小额索偿法庭寻求法律救济，警方调查仍在进行中。

Elisha Tushara 是《海峡时报》的记者，专门报道新加坡的教育领域。

教育和学校

教育部