I WRITE to express my disappointment with the recent increase in school-bus fares. Three weeks ago, when I went to Red Swastika School in Bedok North Avenue 3 to register my second child in Primary 1, I was shocked to learn that the fare will be raised to $78. I recall that, just six months ago, it went up by 7 per cent from $68 to $73. This means a total increase of 14 per cent in just one year, which is completely unreasonable.
Today, the world is in economic and financial crisis, with crude oil prices plunging to four-year lows of US$40 (S$60) a barrel. Our country is in recession, companies are cutting jobs, employees are being retrenched, petrol prices are back to where they were a year ago and Singapore Power has just announced a reduction in electricity tariffs of up to 25 per cent.
Yet, a number of ill-managed school bus operators are raising fares without looking into their own efficiency and cost reduction. Just a few days ago, labour chief Lim Swee Say mentioned that it is unrealistic to expect a wage increase of 4 to 5 per cent. In spite of this, the school management committee has agreed to a 14 per cent fare hike in such a short period of time. Please help me understand the rationale. The issue is not the absolute amount of $10 ($5 + $5), but the high percentage increase, which I see as a transfer of operators' cost inefficiency to parents.
It will not surprise anyone that there are more parents who share my concern but who do not know how to bring up this issue.
I did some research, and here is some further information:
My neighbour pays $90 for rides from Bedok South Road to Siglap, but that includes an extra trip for extra lessons after school.
My colleague lives in Opera Estate and his son is also in Red Swastika. He pays only $65.
Another friend lives in Haig Road in Katong. She pays only $65 for her child to be ferried to Tao Nan School in Still Road South.
I hope this letter will trigger reactions from parents and the public.
Chong Ching Hoong
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Dec 11, 2008.
