Student care centre made wrongful claims for government fee subsidies: MSF

SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has discovered "multiple instances" of wrongful claims for government fee subsidies by a student care centre.

The wrongful claims by Impresario Learning Lab were discovered during a recent audit, MSF said in a press release on Tuesday (Aug 23).

"MSF takes a serious view of this matter and has since referred the matter to the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore Police Force," said the statement.

Impresario Learning Lab, which is in Havelock Road, has 14 days to provide MSF with a satisfactory explanation of the claims. Failing that, the centre's status as a Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) administrator will be revoked.

In the meantime, the centre has been told that it cannot administer the fee assistance for any new students enrolled.

"MSF has sent letters to the parents whose children are enrolled in Impresario Learning Lab to explain the situation, and to provide them our support and assistance," said the statement.

Of the 14 children who were enrolled at Impresario Learning Lab in June, 12 are current recipients of SCFA. Impresario Learning Lab has been disbursing SCFA subsidies since 2013.

The Government's SCFA scheme is meant to help subsidise student care centre fees for low-income families. According to the MSF website, monthly fees at Impresario Learning Lab are $300.

MSF said that it carries out regular audits to guard against student care centres making fraudulent claims.

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