Student Care Contract: 12 Clauses Expat Parents Must Check

If you're new to Singapore and your child is about to start at a student care centre (the local term for after-school care, usually running from 2pm to 7pm on school days), you've probably already been handed a stack of paperwork and a contract that runs several pages. Before you sign, slow down. Student care contracts in Singapore are generally straightforward compared to, say, a tenancy agreement, but there are specific clauses that catch newcomers off guard — especially those used to different consumer protection norms back home.

Here's a clause-by-clause walkthrough of what to check in a student care contract, what's standard practice here, and where you have room to push back.

1. Registration and Deposit Fees

Most centres charge a one-time registration fee (SGD 50–200) plus a deposit equivalent to one month's fees (SGD 300–600, depending on the centre). What to check: is the deposit refundable, and under what conditions? Some centres deduct