SINGAPORE — A student care centre, which is under investigation for wrongful claims made for fee subsidies, will no longer be allowed to administer government student care fee assistance from Aug 1.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said on Tuesday (June 28) that it had served notice to revoke the status of Welcare Student Care Centre as an administrator for such assistance. 

The move comes after a recent audit by the ministry found that the centre — which offers activities such as enrichment programmes and guidance for students in their daily homework — had made multiple instances of wrongful claims to the Government for student care fee subsidies. 

The MSF, which first served a notice of intention to revoke the centre’s administrator status on March 22, has referred the matter to the police’s Commercial Affairs Department. 

The ministry is also in the process of recovering all wrongful subsidy claims made from the centre.

“Welcare Student Care Centre was given 14 days to explain to MSF on the lapses and the steps it would take to improve its processes. MSF has considered Welcare’s responses and concluded that the centre had failed to adequately explain the lapses,” said the ministry in a statement on Tuesday.

“Despite extending the timeline by almost three months on Welcare’s request, Welcare was also unable to demonstrate its ability and commitment to improve its processes, so as to ensure Government student care subsidy is properly administered and no public money is lost.” 

The revocation of the centre’s administrator status will take effect from Aug 1, so as to allow parents time to make alternative care arrangements for their children, said the MFS. 

It is also in contact with parents whose children are enrolled in the centre.