Parents are filing police reports after discovering they were double-charged for student care services by Little Professors Learning Centre (LPLC). The private operator, which ran centers in eight primary schools and provided Kindergarten Care (KCare), is under investigation by police and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for "operational issues," including non-payment of staff salaries. The Ministry of Education (MOE) terminated LPLC's contract due to "contractual breaches" and has also filed a police report. Schools are providing interim after-school care.
Several parents reported "apparent anomalies" in their GIRO deductions. One mother, Yuki, a financial adviser, discovered she was charged the full monthly fee multiple times, including double charges for February. She filed a police report after being advised to terminate her GIRO arrangement. Another parent, Mr. Teng, also reported being double-charged the full fee instead of the subsidized rate for his daughter's student care. Concerns are also mounting over the return of deposits.
The abrupt closure has caused significant anxiety for parents, many of whom are worried about childcare arrangements and potential job impacts. LPLC is also under investigation for unpaid salaries to 54 employees, with the CPF Board taking prosecution action. MOM is investigating potential offenses under the Employment Act. MP Shawn Loh expressed deep concern, calling the operator's actions "highly irresponsible."