CASETRUST for Education - intimidating name but one simple aim: Protect students and uphold a standard for local private schools.

A private education organisation (PEO) gets a CaseTrust for Education when it has good student welfare practices.

Non CaseTrust members cannot enrol foreign students, a rule put in place in 2005.

Mr Seah Seng Choon, executive director of Case said: "CaseTrust for Education is in place because there were malpractices in the education industry."

CaseTrust-approved PEOs have clear fee policies and their students are also assured of redress if the need arises.

These schools have a compulsory Student Protection Scheme (SPS) to protect students' tuition fees in the event that the school closes down.

Under SPS, the school can either get insurance to cover students' pre-paid fees or allow fees to be handled by a Case-endorsed bank like HSBC.

The money is released to the school as the student progresses in his course.

Think of SPS as a safeguard for students; a money-back guarantee in case anything happens.

That's not all the protection students enjoy here.

The Singapore Quality Class (SQC) mark is a recognition of organisational excellence in a school.

Students are assured of good educational facilities, student services and an effective delivery of the school's educational programmes.

Still, not everything is guaranteed by the accreditation schemes.

Students should still do their own checks on the quality of the course and the background of the school, just to be safe.

CaseTrust for Education

Has high quality student welfare practices and standards

Has good fee protection practices in place

Can enrol foreign students

Singapore Quality Class

Educational facilities and materials

Student services

Administering foreign students on student pass

Teaching staff regulations