Debated in Parliament on 6 Jul 2021.
Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry has plans to regulate or license private tuition teachers and tuition agencies/enrichment centres; and (b) what mechanisms are in place to ensure those working as private tuition teachers or in tuition agencies/enrichment centres do not have criminal records of sexual offences or violent crimes.
The private tuition and enrichment industry is diverse, with a wide range of providers and settings. This includes larger tuition and enrichment centres, as well as freelance private tutors, who may enter and exit the industry at any time.
Under the Education Act, centres offering tuition or enrichment programmes to 10 or more students must be registered with MOE. As part of registration requirements, centres are required to comply with infrastructural and fire safety requirements and have a school management committee. Once registered, they are required to display their registration certificate at their premises.
Tutors at these centres must also be registered with MOE. During registration, they must declare whether they have been convicted of any offence punishable with imprisonment. MOE will not register any applicant who has been convicted of such serious offences, including sexual offences.
These regulations do not cover freelance tutors who offer private tuition outside of centres, for example, in homes, or agencies that provide matching services between private tutors and students.
As private tuition is a commercial business, we encourage parents to exercise discretion and due diligence in engaging the services of tuition and enrichment centres, as well as individual tutors.
As the Minister for Home Affairs informed Parliament in April, the Government is reviewing whether to make it mandatory for persons employed in sectors working with children to be screened for serious offences, including sexual offences.
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