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SINGAPORE: Unable to attract enough students in this downturn, at least four private schools have been forced to shut in the first two months of this year.

This brings the total number to 11 in the past year, said Mr Seah Seng Choon, executive director of the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).

Two language schools — Goro Global School and Britannia School of Education — have yet to repay their students fees amounting to some $33,000.

Mr Seah said CASE received 16 complaints from students, most of whom are from China and Vietnam.

"We are helping them to recover the fees. Those whose fees are insured, they can claim from the insurer. Those that the school has failed to insure, they have to go to the Small Claims Tribunal."

Mr Seah said both schools have been stripped of their CaseTrust mark.

His advice to students planning to enrol here is to ensure their fees are adequately protected.

They may choose to leave their fees with the Student Tuition Fee Account or Escrow scheme, or take up a Student Tuition Fee Insurance.

Under the Escrow scheme, fees are left in the custody of a third party or CASE-endorsed banks.