Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng, Jalan Besar GRC
Question
To ask the Minister for Education (a) what is the expected impact of the recent announcement by the Ministry to allow an increase in the pricing cap of school bus fares of up to 13 per cent; and (b) how can families of affected students, especially those with higher special education needs, be assisted.
Response
1. School bus fares are determined through a competitive bidding process, with a fixed pricing cap during the contract period. However, the recent increase in operating costs and manpower shortages have made it more challenging for school bus operators to sustain their operations. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is thus allowing school bus operators to increase the pricing cap of school bus fares for mainstream schools under existing contracts by up to 13% with effect from 1 January 2024. This is part of the larger effort to keep the school bus sector sustainable, and minimise the risk of disruptions and inconvenience to parents and students.
2. In Jan 2023, the school bus subsidy under the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme was raised from 60% of monthly school bus fares to 65% to take into account rising school bus fares. In situations where the low income families need more help, the schools have been and will continue to provide additional financial support.
3. For SPED schools, eligible students taking school bus services can apply for the Enabling Transport Subsidy (ETS), administered by SG Enable. The subsidy was increased from 1 July 2022 to help defray the cost of school bus fares. SPED schools also provide further support to students who may require additional help.
4. We will continue to regularly review our support schemes and make further adjustments if needed.