AROUND half of the 1,000 private schools in Singapore may close down by next June.

This is according to figures provided by the Council for Private Education (CPE).

The reason behind the closure of the schools are due to lack of independent academic and examination boards or financial instability.

Schools wanting to continue their operations have to register under a new framework, due to the new and tougher Private Education Bill.

The Bill is set up to raise standards in the sector.

Schools must meet a list of criteria - proper system in place, provide information on their finances, teachers and facilities and ensure that the foreign institutions they are partnering with are up to mark.

Licences issued are valid between one and six years.

As of now, 195 schools have successfully registered, while 115 others are undergoing evaluation.

The private education sector in Singapore has faced complaints from students and teachers.

Recently, 300 students were left in the without a school when a small private school, School of Applied Studies, closed suddenly due to financial difficulties.