Private school here busted after students get diplomas without tests, classes
The students didn't need to attend classes or take tests. They weren't assessed on their performance.
Yet they were still awarded diplomas in maritime studies from Kings International Business School (KIBS), a private education institution in Singapore.
The school's unethical practices came to light after the Council for Private Education (CPE) received feedback in April last year and launched an investigation.
On Monday (April 20), the CPE issued a press release saying it was cancelling the registration of the school from May 5.
The school cannot offer or conduct any courses henceforth.
It must arrange for its students to continue their course at another school or refund existing students their full course fees by May 5.
According to Feb 11 records, it is believed that the school currently has 10 students taking diploma courses.
Some students took up school's offer
The school had been registered to conduct advanced diploma, diploma, certification and preparatory courses.
CPE Chief Executive Brandon Lee said it was unfortunate that some students "chose to take up KIBS’s offer, instead of reporting them to CPE, implicating genuine students who took lessons in the process".
"While the vast majority of PEIs are bona fide education providers, we must continue to be vigilant to guard against such egregious players as what they do cast doubt on the integrity of the qualifications of PEI graduates," he said.
KIBS is the first private education institution to have its registration cancelled for issuing diplomas without ensuring that students had received proper instruction and assessment.
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